“Let’s celebrate,” Ziggy said as he sat at the now empty bar. “Max, do you have any champagne?”
Max’s smile didn’t reach his eyes, but he nodded and pulled out a chilled bottle and three flutes. “I was all ready for you guys.”
“Where’s Shane?” I asked, looking around but not seeing even a shock of red hair.
“In Atlas’s office. I was told when you had time Atlas needed to talk to you.” Max’s gaze darted to mine, and I absolutely knew something was wrong now.
“Yeah, sure. Trin and Ziggy are heading to the hotel; they have to leave early tomorrow, well, today actually now.”
“We will be doing this again soon, though.” Ziggy held his glass up, and the three of us clinked together. “Haven Hart has a certain kind of magic to it.”
I didn’t say anything in response, just sipped my champagne. I wasn’t so sure magic would be the word I’d use to describe Haven Hart, but I wasn’t going to burst his bubble.
After we finished our drinks, Ziggy announced it was time to go. I walked them out to where their Uber was waiting. Ziggy said he’d be in touch soon and got in, leaving me with Trinity.
“Ledger, I’m sorry I was such a bitch. I had a great time tonight and—”
“How about we pretend it never happened, okay? We’re friends, and that’s how I want it to stay. It’s fine, really.”
She smiled, leaned in, and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Don’t be a stranger, Ledger, okay?”
“I promise.”
I watched them until the car was out of sight, and went back into the club. When I opened the door, Ciro was standing there.
“Were you creeping on me?” I asked.
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s me, a big old creep. Come on, Atlas needs to talk to you.”
I was planning on going to Atlas’s office anyway, but the way Ciro was watching everything around him gave me goose bumps.
“What’s going on, Ciro?”
He looked over his shoulder, eyes dark and endless. “It’s gonna be fine,” was all he said before opening the door to Atlas’s office.
When I stepped inside I noticed two things: Shane was sitting there, and on Atlas’s desk was a box and a flower. Then I realized Max, Toby, and Atlas were all in here as well.
“We need to have a chat, Ledger.” Atlas gestured to the seat next to Shane. “Shane reluctantly told me what’s been going on. And while I’m glad you said something to Ciro, clearly they’re escalating.” He tapped the box.
“Look, I don’t consider gifts as escalating, Atlas. It’s likely an overzealous fan. When I was at the con, it was the first time in a long time I’d been out at a function. I’m sure by next month, they’ll move on and the gifts will stop.” I really wanted to believe that.
“Right, because here in Haven Hart, the easiest and least threatening thing is always what it is.” Max’s sarcastic reply was followed by a roll of his eyes.
“Not helping, Max,” Atlas snapped. “Let’s see what’s in the box, shall we?”
I went to reach for it, but Ciro beat me to it. “Hey.”
“You have no idea what’s in here. If it’s something that can hurt you or—”
“But it hurting you is okay?” I argued and went for the box, but Ciro was faster and I backed away.
“I don’t hurt so easily.” I was about to say more, but before I could argue further, Ciro opened the box and there was silence.
“What is it?” Shane asked.
Ciro took out what was in the box. “A USB drive.”
“Like last time.” Shane looked over at me. “Another song?”
“Right, Shane filled us in. The first gift was the song ‘Creep’ by Radiohead, correct?” Atlas took the USB drive from Ciro.
“There’s something else.” Ciro took out a small piece of paper that was in the box and opened it. “I believe it’s meant to be, darling. I watch you when you are sleeping, you belong with me. Do you feel the same?”
“Those are lyrics,” Shane said, and he was right.
“ ‘Eternal Flame’ by the Bangles.” I gestured to Atlas. “Play it.” Sure enough, the song began to play.
I watched everyone: There was worry on Toby’s face. Max’s was hardened, no doubt angry. Ciro was placid in the way he always was. Atlas had his eyes closed as if he were absorbing every word, and Shane was staring right at me. When the song ended, you could hear a pin drop.
“I never thought that song was creepy before now.” Toby shuddered, breaking the silence.
“Shane said he saw someone, and they seemed sort of out of place here. He was trying to follow them but lost them as he headed toward the stage. When Shane arrived, the person was gone, and the flower and box were in their place,” Ciro explained.
I shot my gaze toward Shane. “You followed them? Why would you do that?” I didn’t mean to raise my voice, but the thought of this person seeing Shane and going at him made my stomach turn.
“Because I thought something was wrong. I didn’t necessarily think it pertained to you. And I wasn’t working, so I couldn’t call into Ciro!” he snapped back.
“Did your cell phone stop working?” Yeah, I was being a jerk.
“Fuck you, Ledger! I saw Toby, and he contacted Ciro. Nothing happened.”
“But it could have.”
“In the middle of the club? Get real, Ledger.” Shane narrowed his eyes, clearly angry with me.
“Did you forget the water incident, Shane? When Vick, your former boss, nearly blinded everyone with poisonous water? Right in the middle of a full club!” I was on my feet now, towering over Shane’s sitting form.
“Sit,” Ciro snapped. “Calm yourself.”
Shane’s face was bright red, and I immediately regretted how the conversation went down. But at the same time, I hated that he thought following an unpredictable person was at all safe.
“We’ve all been through some shit,” Atlas said. “Let’s not play this game and wait and see how serious this ‘fan’ is.”
“Well, I’m not sure going to the police will help,” I argued.
“We’re still going to report it. I’m not playing here, Ledger. As for security, Ciro, I want you to double it. I know you have more people you can call in—do it. I’ll pay them for their time, of course.” Atlas grabbed the USB drive and handed it to me. “Keep this with the other one. We may need to show the police. Let them do their thing, and we’ll do ours.”
I gripped the USB drive in my hand and sighed. This was fucked up.
Chapter Thirteen
Shane
I had a short fuse when it came to anything pertaining to Ledger. It was strange how one person made every emotion feel ten times greater than it was. From Trinity to this wacko. I sat in Atlas’s office, barely listening as they spoke about a plan for the evenings when Ledger was at his place.
“I don’t think they’ll break into my place. They seem eager but not murderous. I mean, flowers and songs?” Ledger shrugged.
“You did listen to those songs, right?” Max argued. “It’s not like ‘Unchained Melody’ here. This person made The Bangles scary. Who does that?”
“So what’s your plan?” Ledger looked at Max and Ciro.
“I have a friend who works security, but it’s going to take a few days. He’s in high demand so he will likely have to make arrangements. Until then, you shouldn’t be alone,” Ciro said.
“I have Lion.”
He wasn’t serious. “Lion is a fucking bird, Ledger.” I stood, took a few steps, and was only a few inches from him. There was anger in his eyes, and that familiar intensity I usually shy away from, but my need for his safety wouldn’t have me turning away. “What’s he gonna do, pluck his eyes out?”
“Yeah, Shane, he would.”
“You’re being an ass,” I argued.
“You two need to chill.” Atlas came around his desk and separated us. “Either someone stays with you, Ledger, or you’re bunking with me and Toby.”
<
br /> “I think you’re being ridiculous.” Ledger started toward the door. I knew he’d leave, and there wasn’t a whole hell of a lot anyone could do about it.
“I’ll stay with him,” I blurted out.
“You two are acting like you want to rip each other’s faces off. You think having you there for help is going to be a good idea? If this nutjob doesn’t wear his skin as the new fall fashion, you might.” Max scoffed.
“I have no pets, no obligations at my place. You all do…” I glanced over at Ciro. “I assume you do—I don’t think I’d want to know.” Ciro smirked, but there was a telltale sign that I was right.
“You won’t kill him?” Max asked. “I sort of like him.”
“I will be fine alone,” Ledger only half argued. When I looked over at him, there was a soft smile playing on his lips.
“Too bad.” I walked over to him. “Let’s go, I’m tired. We can talk more about this in the morning.” I wouldn’t let anyone get another word in; I opened the door and walked out. I had grabbed my jacket and was headed out to the parking lot by the time everyone else exited Atlas’s office.
“Be safe,” Atlas said as Ledger joined me.
He was quiet all the way to the SUV, and as much I wanted to snap at him for embarrassing me in Atlas’s office, I realized I was likely going to say something I’d regret if I did.
Halfway to his place, he lowered the music, and I knew he was going to speak. “If you want me to drop you at your place, I can. We don’t have to tell them you didn’t stay.”
I whipped my head so fast it hurt. “I’m not doing this to shut them up, Ledger. You have someone stalking you. Whether it’s a dangerous person or not isn’t the issue. Point is, you shouldn’t be alone until they stop or are caught and told to stop.”
“I can take care of myself.”
I thought for a beat, Does he not want me staying with him? “If you’d rather I don’t come with you, please take me home, but I’ll call Ciro the second you do, and he will either be your new roommate, or you’ll be packed away and having popcorn parties with Toby.”
He chuckled. “Is that a thing?”
“It is with Toby.”
Ledger sighed, and it felt like all the tension that had wound him up was released. “I want you to stay.”
“Then I want to stay,” I answered, allowing myself to feel a small amount of joy.
Ledger parked in his garage, and we made our way to the elevator. There were no packages outside, nothing seemed weird, and when the elevator doors opened, the familiar roar from Lion made me chuckle.
“It’s just me, Lion,” Ledger announced, and a moment later the gray-and-red bird flew down from one of the ceiling beams and landed on his shoulder.
“It’s crazy how real that roar sounds. It still surprises me.” I petted Lion softly with one finger and smiled when he turned my way.
“He’s good security.” Ledger was regarding me and Lion with an unreadable expression. “When Trin and Ziggy stayed here, Lion didn’t like them. He was a menace but…”
I gazed into Ledger’s intense eyes and when he didn’t continue I asked, “But what?”
“He liked you straight away.”
My mouth instinctively smiled. It felt like a huge privilege, having this intelligent bird like me. “He’s clearly got good taste.”
Ledger took two steps and was in my space, chest to chest with me. Lion wasn’t fond of that and flew away. I was about to ask Ledger what he was doing, but his lips crashed against mine, his hands cupped my cheeks, and the heat rolling off his body wrapped itself around me.
Next thing I knew, I was lifted up, my legs circled his waist, and he was carrying me somewhere. I didn’t know where and I didn’t care, just as long as he never stopped touching me.
I felt myself falling back but Ledger never let go, and I knew we were on his bed. He rested between my legs, our hard cocks rubbing together, the fabric the only thing in the way of feeling his skin on mine.
“Fuck, Shane…”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
He chuckled as he licked down my neck. “I want inside you. Damn, it’s like I need it.”
I knew what he meant. It was as if Ledger and I had been circling each other for so long. We both knew we wanted one another. We’d made out, we didn’t hide our attraction. But our temperaments clashed a lot.
“Fuck me, Ledger.” The desperation in my voice was obvious, even to me.
When he lifted off me, I missed his warmth for a second until I realized he was ripping his clothes off. With a boisterous laugh, I started doing the same. I was taking the last of my clothes off when I felt eyes on me. Ledger was staring at me, standing at the foot of his bed…naked. The moon shone through the skylight like a spotlight.
“You’re beautiful,” I said.
“I was just thinking the same about you.” Then he pounced.
Feeling his skin on mine, tasting his tongue, licking his sweat, all of it made me feel like I was in a haze of lust. I was flying.
Ledger’s hand traveled down my side, nails biting into the flesh on my ass. The whole time, he devoured my mouth and I returned everything tenfold. When his finger brushed over my hole, a shiver wracked my body.
“Easy,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m gonna make you feel amazing.” And as hungry as I was for him, I wanted it to last. I pulled my face from his and he froze.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. His eyes glittered with worry and lust.
“Nothing. Just…” I pressed my hand on his cheek and when he nuzzled along my palm, I smiled. “I just want to remember it all.” It was mushy and maybe not what Ledger wanted to hear, but when he opened his mouth and sucked my finger, I knew he got it.
“There’s nothing about tonight I won’t remember forever,” he said before he kissed me slowly, pouring himself into me. I could have wept with how my body came alive for him. Instead I wrapped myself around him and held on for the ride.
Chapter Fourteen
Ledger
I could spend an entire night with Shane, and I already knew it would not be enough. His skin was soft and flawless. I assumed, when I saw him the first time, he’d be covered in freckles but there weren’t any on him…and believe me, I was being thorough.
I spread his legs; his cock hard, red, and leaking precome was a gorgeous sight. His balls were tight, and he appeared to be seconds away from exploding.
“Don’t come yet,” I ordered.
“I’m trying, but fuck, Ledger, you’re driving me crazy.”
I licked up from his balls all the way to the tip of his cock and sucked. I loved how he bucked; his almost painful moan sent waves of need over me. He tasted delicious, just how I knew he would.
“Under the pillow,” I said. “Lube.”
Shane fumbled a little but finally handed it over with a smirk. “Always prepared, huh?”
I didn’t think he was saying that to mean I was a slut, but I wondered if he thought that and I wanted him to know I wasn’t.
“I’ve been jacking off to thoughts of you like this for a long time. It was easier to have the lube handy.”
His smile was brilliant and exactly what I was aiming for. I poured lube on my fingers and pressed against his hole while I sucked his cock.
“Ledger, fuck! I can’t…you can’t…I’m gonna…”
I lifted off him and, with my fingers still stretching him, kissed up his chest. “Can you reach the drawer next to the bed there?” I looked at the nightstand. I knew he’d be able to.
“Yeah.”
“Condoms, in there, grab them.” I was out of breath, barely hanging in there myself. He shifted a bit, moaning more because I was finger-fucking him hard and he was barely holding on. I would’ve laughed if he wasn’t driving me mad.
He threw the packet at me and plopped back. “Hurry, shit, please hurry,” he begged, and there was no way I was denying the man a thing.
As fast as possible I ripped it open and slid the
condom onto my very hard cock.
“Next time, I’m sucking you,” Shane said. “Now get the fuck in me.”
Hearing him say “next time” ignited me. I wanted more, a next time…longer. I should have known he’d be a firecracker in bed, but he was going to make me come just from his neediness to feel me.
I crawled up his vibrating body, and when I peered into his gray eyes, there was barely any silver to be seen—his pupils were blown wide. I had to steady myself. I gripped my cock and slowly slid inside his tight warm hole. Not wanting to miss a second of his reactions, my gaze was glued to his.
Once I completely filled him, he gave me a soft smile that I couldn’t help but kiss. I took a few moments to savor being as close as I could to him. His legs wrapping around my waist made it so we were impossibly closer.
“Ledger?” Shane whispered against my lips.
“Yeah.”
“I need you to move. I need you to fuck me.”
Damn. I loved his dirty mouth. “I’ll fuck you, just hang on.”
I knew no matter how much I wanted this to last, there was no way. I slid out slowly, then slammed into his warm, tight heat. The zing of pleasure almost made me come.
Gripping his wrists, I pulled them above his head and began fucking him long and deep. We might not last, but it was going to be amazing. I slammed into him, his legs slid to the sides, and he was fucking himself on my dick in unison with my thrusts. It was insane…I loved it.
Shane’s head shot back, he arched, and come painted his stomach. Just seeing him fall apart made me come so hard I thought I’d pass out.
I collapsed beside him, his eyes closed and mine unable to look away from him. We both were breathing hard, and our skin was slick with sweat and come. When I moved to go get a washcloth to clean him up, he grabbed my arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Just to get something to clean up, then, if you’d like, I’d love if you slept next to me.” When he didn’t say anything right away, I continued. “I have a guest room if you’d rather not.”
His fingers slid down my arm until he gripped my hand. “I’d really like to stay here with you.”
Heart Beats Page 7
