Beat With Me: A With Me in Seattle Universe Novel

by Anna Edwards

  My orgasm subsides, and Liam pulls out of me. I wince, letting out a little yelp of pain as he does. He slides from the bed and heads into the bathroom, returning almost as quickly as he disappeared with a wet towel and presses it to my core. I welcome the cooling effect against my heated flesh.

  I look up at Liam. “Is it always that intense?”

  “Well, I don’t like to brag.” He chuckles, and I reach for a pillow and throw it at him.

  He catches it and drops it to the floor before climbing back into bed beside me. He pulls me into his arms and settles me against his chest. His breathing is still fast as he recovers from his own release.

  “Did I bleed again?” I question, suddenly worried whether we should change the sheets.

  “No, but you are going to be a little sore. We’ll sleep for a while, and then I’ll show you a different position with you on top. I can get deeper inside you like that, and your orgasm will be even better. Plus I get to see your tits bounce with you above me.”

  “Me on top?” I gasp and turn to face him.

  “Don’t worry. Trust me.” Liam smirks and winks at me.

  “Always.” I lay my head back down on his chest and listen to the beat of his heart as it slows.

  I may not remember my first time with Liam, but I’ll certainly remember this time and every time in the future. I never want this to end. I’ve found where I should be. All I can hope is it’ll never be taken away from me.

  Chapter 17

  Liam

  #SometimesIHateThePress

  “You’re going to need to keep your head down for the day.” Zoey hands me her phone, and I look at it as Yivi and I sit with her and Tate, having breakfast on the bus.

  We’re on our way to Houston for our next concert. Cameron and Austin are still in bed after playing computer games until the early hours.

  “Fuck! How did anyone get a photo of that? We were backstage!” I exclaim, furious at seeing a picture of me sending a fist flying into my brother’s face.

  The incident has made the news headlines for the day…it’s a textbook punch, though, so I’m pretty proud of that.

  “You know people get pictures of us everywhere now. Remember Cameron and the picture of his dick that’s on the internet. He was in the fucking shower. It wasn’t even taken by a woman he slept with,” Tate says with his mouth full of toast.

  As if hearing his name makes him magically appear, Cameron stumbles in still half asleep.

  “Why are we talking about my dick? I know it’s a work of art, but still. Isn’t it a little bit early in the morning? I need coffee first.”

  The lead guitarist steals a piece of toast from Zoey’s plate. She tried to swipe it back but is too slow, and Cameron munches on it as he wanders over to the coffee machine.

  “We aren’t talking about your dick,” Tate grumbles. “I don’t need to go anywhere that walking STD apparatus.”

  “Fuck you.” Cameron flips his friend off. “What are you talking about, then?”

  “Liam is in the headlines for punching his brother.”

  “What?” Yivi, who’s been reading an article for her high school diploma while eating her toast, looks up from the document. I hand her Zoey’s phone, and seeing the picture, she starts to read the article, her face turning white as a sheet as she does.

  It makes me angry. We’ve been living in bliss since we slept together, and I don’t want Yivi getting stressed or upset again.

  “Fudgecakes!” Yivi exclaims. Even though my brother has encouraged her to swear once or twice, she doesn’t feel comfortable doing it and has resorted to using alternative words instead. I find it endearing as it’s completely her. “It mentions the fight being over a woman. Thankfully, you can’t see me in the picture. Is this really bad news? Will you have to talk to the press and let them know everything is all right, and it’s a misunderstanding?”

  “I’ll prepare a statement, letting them know it wasn’t anything serious, in spite of the fact you can see blood flying out of Gabe’s nose.” Zoey reaches out for her phone, and Yivi gives it back to her. “It should be fine. It’s just more work, but I wouldn’t have you guys any other way.”

  “I’ll give you a problem to work on tomorrow.” Cameron chuckles. “I feel as though I’ve been too much of a good boy lately. How do you think an orgy will go down with the press? I’m totally up for that if it’ll give you lots of work to do. It’s the least I can do for my best mate’s girl.”

  Tate raises an eyebrow at Cameron. “You even try, and I’ll make sure your dick doesn’t work ever again.”

  Cameron immediately grabs his manhood. “You wouldn’t dare?”

  Tate smirks. “Try me. And afterward, you’ll have to listen to what a real dick can do when I fuck Zoey hard every night.”

  Cameron scratches his balls before he returns to his coffee and mutters, “Monogamy is for losers.”

  “He’ll be so screwed when it happens to him,” Zoey says to Yivi, and they both laugh together.

  “What time are we due at the venue in Houston?” Cameron changes the conversation.

  “A couple of hours I think,” I respond.

  I’m not entirely sure, but I know it won’t be long. It’s probably a bit of a geeky thing to do, something more attuned to Austin and his crazy technological skills, but I like to use Google to check out the journey so I know where I’m going. It’s something I keep to myself, though.

  “Time for a shower and another nap.” Cameron pushes away from the kitchen units and pads back toward the sleeping quarters. “Later, losers.”

  We all shake our heads.

  “Nice to see he’s in good form. It’ll be a great concert tonight if he brings his banter A game,” Tate says as he puts his arm around Zoey.

  “I better spend the rest of the journey practicing my insults. I’ve been with Yivi too much and keep getting the urge to say fudgecakes instead of fuck. Not sure that’ll go down too well on stage.” I shake my head in embarrassment. It’s cute, just not in front of thousands of fans.

  “Oh please do, and we’ll rip the shit…sorry! sugar, honey, iced tea out of you.”

  “Fuck off!” I flip Tate off before sliding from my seat and heading toward the back of the bus.

  Cameron is already in the shower when I get there, so I go into the large room at the back of the bus to search out some clean clothes. For the first time on tour, this area is actually organized. The girls, of course, have used the limited wardrobe space to hang up their clothes, but I’ve at least folded a couple of t-shirts and put them neatly on a shelf.

  In the past, we just kept everything in suitcases, and when we needed a change of clothes, we’d pull something out and sniff it to see if it was clean. Once a week, we used to hand the dirty clothes to someone and have clean replacements brought to us. Zoey has put a linen bag in the room, and she makes sure our clothes are cleaned at each stop. I must admit it’s nice not to come back here and be overpowered by the smell of sweaty men and farts.

  I find the t-shirt I want and a clean pair of underwear, and I’m about to go and shout at Cameron to hurry up in the shower when Yivi appears at the door. I can tell she’s nervous by the way she nibbles on the tip of a manicured finger.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask as I sit down on the bed we slept in last night—as per the rota we share with Zoey and Tate.

  I pat the mattress gently, inviting her to come and sit with me. She does, and I bring her into my arms.

  “Is it bad, the picture being in public?”

  “Not at all,” I reassure her with a kiss to the forehead. “It’ll be fine.”

  “Your manager won’t mind?”

  “Not in the slightest. Zoey will put a fabulous spin on it, and it’ll be fine. Stop worrying. You need to go finish the module for your diploma.”

  Yivi sighs. “Urgh, I can think of something I’d much rather do.”

  “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

  “Practice my dick sucking skills.” />
  “Damn, woman, you’re insatiable, but I’m going to be a good husband and tell you to get that pretty little butt of yours out into the living area and finish studying. When you’re done, I’ll reward you by letting you suck me.”

  My dick screams at me not to be such an idiot. He wants to get sucked now! I ignore him and inwardly tell him he’s getting a cold shower instead. He’s not impressed.

  “Spoilsport,” Yivi agrees with my dick.

  With a kiss to my mouth, Yivi leaves me sitting on the bed, and I lick my lips to savor an additional taste of her. She opens the door to the bedroom area to find Zoey standing there with an extremely worried look on her face.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  I’ve learned Zoey’s expressions by now, and I know this one is serious. This time my heart sinks. I’m immediately on my feet as she walks into the room and hands me her phone again.

  Vomit gets stuck in my throat when I see a picture of Yivi and I in the restaurant where we had our first proper date in Seattle. We’re both laughing as she tries to crack open a lobster leg.

  “Liam?” Yivi comes to my side and looks at the picture.

  “Is that us at dinner?” Her voice trembles.

  “Yes,” I send the article to my phone and hand Zoey’s phone back to her.

  “They’re speculating that the fight with your brother might have been over the girl you’re having dinner with in this picture. What do you want me to say?” Zoey asks, looking between Yivi and me.

  “Have you sent anything to them about the fight at all?” I question.

  “I’ve sent a simple statement saying it was a misunderstanding between you and your brother, but it’s sorted out now, and there’ll be no repercussions or repeats,” Zoey replies.

  “Leave it at that for now. I need to think about this. The last thing we want to do is thrust Yivi into the spotlight. Maybe we could set up an interview in Houston and explain what happened? A bit like you and Tate did when you announced your relationship.”

  It’s all I can think of at the moment. I don’t want Yivi to face the press. Some of them are vultures—they’ll tear her apart given the chance. She’s still too innocent, but I know they won’t stop now they have a picture of me with her.

  Zoey nods her head to say she’ll do as I ask and leaves us alone again.

  “Are you all right?” Yivi sits next to me and holds my hand.

  “Yeah, I want to protect you from what’s about to come out. They’ll want to know everything about you. I don’t want to share it with them. I want you all to myself. I want to be the only one to learn your secrets, not have a bunch of reporters delve into everything and have them find it all out.”

  Yivi pulls my head around so she’s looking into my eyes. “Liam, you already know everything there is to know about me. They’ll never find out who I am, because they can’t. I’m nobody, so any secrets I have are safe with you.”

  “Don’t ever say you’re nobody.” I lower my head to kiss her.

  “You know what I mean. This might be the one time when who I really am saves us from intrusion.”

  “God, I love you.” I kiss her again.

  Cameron barges into the room before the emotion between us can progress any further.

  “Zoey told me. Fucking hacks.”

  “That’s one way of putting it.”

  “Fudgecake hacks is another,” Yivi adds and stands up. I follow suit, and we return to the front of the bus, leaving Cameron to change in peace.

  I pull out my phone while Yivi returns to her reading. The time seems to flash by like lightning as I stare down at the article and then search for more online. The speculation about Yivi and the argument with my brother doesn’t settle well with me the more I read. The fact I can’t enjoy this moment alone with my new wife and learn about her without being interrupted makes me so angry. I know this is the price I have to pay for fame. I’ve courted the spotlight in the past, but I just want to be left alone to enjoy this moment in peace.

  “We’re in Houston.” Are the next words that penetrate my brain. I look up from my phone and notice the bus has stopped moving.

  “Shall we go and check out the venue?” Tate asks. “I’ve heard great things about it. It’ll be one of the biggest concerts we’ve ever played.”

  “Yeah, I want to see it as well. I remember Leo telling me about it. I’ve been dying to play here ever since.” Austin, who seems to have appeared from nowhere, responds and is already on his feet, and I get to mine to follow him.

  Yivi comes up beside me and takes my hand. “Smile and enjoy this. You’ve earned it. I’ll be by your side the entire time.”

  We all descend the bus steps to the blinding light of flashbulbs going off and assorted questions being thrown at us by the press. Our bodyguards instantly try to hold them back, but the reporters smell blood, and they want it.

  “What the fuck?” Austin exclaims and instantly comes to Yivi’s other side. He grabs her hand to help her walk quickly into the venue. Tate and Cameron are doing the same with Zoey.

  “Liam, who’s the woman?” one of the press asks.

  “Was she dating your brother? Is that why you were fighting?” another questions.

  I realize the reason they’re here isn’t to see the band or ask questions about the tour. It’s because of Yivi and me and the morning reports about us.

  The anger inside me surfaces again. It’s been bubbling ever since I started looking at all the articles. I grind to a halt while Austin continues, now half carrying Yivi toward the venue doors.

  “Enough!” I scream.

  “Liam, no!” both Zoey, as my babysitter, and Yivi, as my wife, shout in tandem, but I ignore them.

  “You want answers to your questions? Well, here they are. I hit my brother because he was testing whether Yivi was playing me, but I already knew she wasn’t. Yivi is my wife. We married in Vegas, and I love her very much. That’s all I have to say. Now leave us alone so we can bring music to the people of Houston.”

  I make my way into the darkness of the venue and slam the door shut behind me.

  Chapter 18

  Yivi

  #ImBraverThanIThinkIam

  I think by the end of the day I won’t have any of my nice nails left. I’ve already pulled the nail polish off of one of them, nibbling on the end as I watch Zoey talking with a number of different news agencies.

  The band is doing a sound check on the main stage, and Liam and I haven’t really had a chance to speak about his outburst. I’ve seen once before, with his parents, the consequences of him speaking the truth when his temper is impaired. I dread what will happen this time. All I know is my face is currently plastered all over the internet as being the wife of rock star Liam Romero. For someone who wants to stay hidden away from her past, it’s not the best thing to have happened.

  “We’re not giving out any further information at the moment. I can confirm that Mr. Romero and his new wife married in Las Vegas as he mentioned. That’s all I can tell you at this time. Mr. Romero has stated that his priorities lie with tonight’s concert and giving the best performance he can for his fans. He’ll be issuing a statement after the show with more details, but for now, he asks you to, please, focus your reporting on the concert and the percentage of the ticket sales the band will be donating to local charities here in Houston. Their music continues to be the priority for Saving Tate,” Zoey repeats the speech she’s said numerous times now and hangs up the phone. Two seconds later, it rings again. “You know what, fuck this.” She presses a button to send the call to voicemail. “I’ve issued the statement enough times now and put it out online. If people can’t be bothered to read it and think by calling me directly they’ll get more information, then they’re surely mistaken. They can go fuck themselves.”

  Zoey pops her phone onto silent and puts it in her pocket. She sees me watching her and comes over.

  “Are you all right, Yivi? It’s not easy being put in the spotlight like
that. I think I had the same look on my face when it first happened to me with Tate.”

  “I’m just worried,”

  “What’s worrying you? I’ll help in any way I can,” Zoey offers and motions for us to sit down on some soft chairs in the band’s dressing room area.

  “I’ve looked at the internet, and my face is everywhere. I’m supposed to be hiding, but I’m worried I’ll be seen, and the Leader will come after me. I don’t want to go back.” I bite on my finger again and chip off another piece of nail polish.

  “It won’t come to that, I promise. Do they even have the technology to see all this? Even if they do, we’re never alone. Guards always travel with us. Give them a description of what the Leader looks like, and he’ll never get near you. Even if he does, he’s going to have four very angry, rather scary band members to deal with. You’re one of us now and protected.”

  “What Zoey said.” Tate walks into the room and goes straight to his fiancée for a kiss.

  Liam is following him and does the same to me. Cameron and Austin enter last, and they’re bouncing and chatting together.

  “Too damn right,” Liam adds. “I’m worried about you being in the headlines as well, but we’re going to look after you.”

  “We’ll make sure someone’s with you at all times, Yivi. If Liam isn’t with you, then one of us will be.” Austin flops down on the sofa as he makes his announcement. “We each have our own bodyguard, so that’s extra protection. Even if Liam is good at giving his the slip and getting married.” He nods over to where I know the bodyguards are standing outside.

  “You can’t do that all the time,” I inform the guys but shy back a little when they all stare me down and tell me in no uncertain terms they can.