“I hate that he’s tasted what’s mine.”
Lily began to struggle against me trying to sit up. “Stop…”
Pulling back, but continued to stare intensely, “Tell me you’re mine, Lily. I need to hear it.”
“I can’t be yours until Zoe isn’t.”
Closing my eyes, I nodded. “Anything, I’ll tell her tomorrow.”
“So, what? You go home for one last fuck and tell her?”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “You might not believe me, but I told you, I haven’t had sex with her since I kissed you at the launch party. I haven’t even kissed her. I’ve been putting her off and was going to tell her I couldn’t have her around anymore.”
“You need to take care of her, Alfie.”
Smirking at her, I told her, “I already did.”
Lily frowned. “You did?”
Tilting my head back to face her, I scowled, “Don’t I always face my responsibilities?”
Watching Lily consider that, I could see her thinking then her face relaxed.
Shrugging, I replied, “She already has a place. I set her up when she decided to come on the road with me. She’s also had a monthly allowance paid into her account, so she could walk away whenever she wanted. I don’t think she’s ever drawn a penny on that the whole time she’s been with me. She puts her clothes and anything else she needs on my card account. Zoe worked in retail and service and brought in minimum wage when she met me. So she was happy with the set-up between us. She knew it wasn’t forever. This just means she can get on with her life a little quicker is all.”
Lily pushed me to the side and sat up, fished for her tank top and pulled it back on.
“Time to go, Alfie. Call me when your relationship issues are resolved.” She pointed to the door, and I stood up slowly.
“You mean it? We’re going to be together?”
“Zoe,” she nodded at the doorway, and to be honest I had never been happier leaving her than I was at that moment, because I was heading to clear the way so that we could be together.
“We’ll talk tomorrow. I’m going to need a lot of convincing, but you have bought yourself a hearing,” she said as she pushed outside the apartment into the hallway and closed the door.
Going down to the foyer of Lily’s building, I asked the doorman to order a taxi, and sat texting Des until it arrived. Zoe was at Des’s place, and I was telling him that she wasn’t coming back to the apartment. I called Elle and asked her to go to my place and start putting all of Zoe’s things together.
Elle was wary about me and Lily being together, but it was none of her fucking business. She was going to get her ‘happily ever after,’ and I was as sure as fuck going to do everything I could to have mine.
By the time I arrived home it was morning, and I slumped into bed feeling bone weary but on a high emotionally. Replays running in my mind about everything that happened this evening, and so fucking glad Luca had seen us for what we were, otherwise I’d have had a much harder job to convince Lily.
Chapter 50 – Goodbye
Waking up at eleven in the morning, the first thing I did when I opened my eyes was text Lily.
SEXPERT : I can’t wait to see you today. What time, where?
Pink Lady: Zoe?
SEXPERT: Drunk, Des has her in his apartment.
Pink Lady: Des?
SEXPERT: I sent him a text telling him she wasn’t coming back to my place again.
Pink Lady: When things are resolved with Zoe, contact me.
Elle was like a whirlwind, and by the time I got home had made a lot of headway in packing all Zoe’s things together. Part of me felt bad, that Zoe was going in an instant, but we both knew what this was, and it was better that I made a clean break from her anyway, given the feelings I had been having for several weeks by that time.
Calling a shipping company to pick up her things, they sent a courier for the set of keys I held to her new place in Washington D.C. All of her things would be taken there today and arrive tomorrow afternoon. Telling Zoe wasn’t easy, I really liked her, and she’d seen me through some pretty tough times during the previous year. It made me nervous about how she might react.
Weird thing was that it seemed I was right about her attachment issues, because she just shrugged and said a lot of things that made me feel so much better about it.
“Alfie, I hope I get to feel all the things you feel for Lily. I’m really happy she’s giving you guys another chance. You’ll make someone else very miserable if you don’t make this work with her. I hope she realizes that your love is on a level she won’t get from someone else.”
After that my team helped Zoe to find a place at college doing a course she had always wanted to do but could never afford. She was lucky and had a place to start in the next semester.
We said our goodbyes, and Zoe was staying at Des’s place until she left for the airport. There was a look between them, and I figured they both felt they were free to do what they wanted now. Des had made no secret about what he wanted to do to Zoe. Leaving Des’s place, I smiled. Zoe was going to be okay, and I was free to go and get my girl.
Driving over to Drew’s place, I had a long talk with him about how I had gone to see Lily and what had happened with Zoe. Really wanting to get off on the right foot with everyone this time, because I was going to need their help and support to keep Lily confident she was doing the right thing.
In truth, Lily loved me, I knew that, but I wasn’t immune to how much music meant to her either, and even though she would have been enough for me, that was easy to say because I was successful and doing what she was striving for anyway.
What it all boiled down to was that Lily’s life had been very different from mine up until we met. Born and raised in a loving environment, just like me, playing music and passionate about it, just like me, but that was where the similarities ended.
Lily was an innocent, protected from all the pain and suffering that goes with responsibility, grief, and loss, so I had to cut her some slack for all the frustrations she gave me.
The girl was scared shitless that the rock star that was pursuing her was going to rock her world and discard her and that she’d have to give up her life just to love me. What Lily needed to be taught that one thing wasn’t exclusive of the other in our case.
Pulling my cell out as I arrived at Lily’s apartment block, I calledher number.
“Hey.”
“Zoe?” Lily’s tone was clipped.
Exhaling loudly, I said, “She’s gone, Lily.” Looking at my watch I knew Zoe was now on her way to D.C.
“Des took her to the airport. She’s flying back to D.C. as we speak. She has an apartment there, and she wants to go to college. I’ve already arranged that for her. She was lucky; she got enrolled for the January semester studying at the college of Arts and Science. She had great scores from high school, but her parents didn’t have a college fund, so she ended up working in a hardware store.”
“Where are you?” She must have heard the traffic.
“I’m sitting in my car outside your apartment. Can I come up?”
Lily explained that she wasn’t at home and was at Lennon’s meeting with her band.
“Shit, where are you; I’ll come pick you up.”
“No, Alfie, go home. I’ll see you tonight. It’s only a couple of hours away.”
Pissed that she could show a level of control I couldn’t around her, I said, “Lily, it’s been way over a year. I can’t wait another minute.”
“Tonight.” She chuckled. “I promise it will be worth the wait.”
Groaning, I told her, “You are determined to kill me aren’t you?” Lily giggled sweetly.
“I think you’ll live, see you later.” And I heard the call drop, she’d cut me off again.
Pacing my condo, I needed something to take my mind off of Lily for a few hours. So, I changed into some swimmers and headed down to the beach.
With my big cowboy hat and my daggy t
owel and umbrella, no one would spot me on the quiet part of the beach where my condo was. I didn’t take my t-shirt off until I was lying down, and I’d place the umbrella strategically so that I was partly secluded by it.
An hour in the sun, and I fell asleep for another thirty minutes, before I headed back to get ready for my date with Lily.
Ziggy’s Palace was one of the best clubs in Miami, apart from the ones Lily worked in. Hanging around just inside the door, I had butterflies in my belly.
The anticipation of being with her made me hard just to think about her. Lily arrived in a cab with Jack and Rosie, and I went over to open the door as soon as the cab stopped.
Opening the door for her, Lily smiled up at me. She looked fucking sensational in a tight green dress and a pair stiletto heeled shoes as usual.
Crowds waiting for entry to the club recognized me and started to scream, but I largely ignored them because I was screaming inside in adulation as well…for Lily.
As soon as I placed my hands on her hips, the girls screamed back, and I leaned in and whispered, “Where have you been? You look so fucking hot by the way.” Smiling widely at her. A buzz of excitement came from the line of girls waiting to get into the club.
Continuing to scream for my attention, the girls in line were making catcalls, and offering them-selves to me in one way or another. One called out that she would show me the “best night of your life,” to choruses of, “We love you, Alfie.”
One voice rose above the rest. “Hey Alfie, when is it my turn to be grabbed.” Smirking, I turned to the crowd of girls. “Sorry girls, I only have two hands, and they don’t like touching anyone except my girl here.”
The girls let out a collective groan. “Lucky bitch,” one called out.
Lily smirked and looked up at me, but her voice was shaky, “They all want you, what does it feel like, to be able to have any girl you want?” Scowling I shook my head, knowing she was thinking that they were competition for her.
“I didn’t know until tonight, because I have only wanted one girl for so long. She didn’t want me until recently. So, it’s a new concept for me.”
Grinning that I was finally saying that, I chuckled, continuing, “Now that I have her, my heart is bursting with joy, and I have an excruciating ache with the wood in my pants.”
Lily looked over at the girls that were still making loud comments, and I hooked my finger under her chin, turning her face toward me. “They may think they want me, but I know not a single one of them could ever come between us.”
Pulling her closer, I looked at the girls again. “Well…” One of them shouted. Turning back to face Lily, “Guess they are waiting for me to kiss you now.”
Lily shivered with anticipation of what was coming, there was lust in her eyes, and she began to shake a little. Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, I slowly began to smile at her. “Do you mind?” I asked staring at her lips. Lily moistened them, waiting for me to move in.
Lily letting me do this in front of everyone was significant, because I knew she was accepting we were going to make this work between us. Something inside of her had shifted, and I felt much more confident that this time, there was no going back. Dipping my head, I licked my lips, and dropped my forehead onto hers, my eyes heavy with passion.
Grinning down at her, feeling so overwhelmed by her, I softly said, “This will be our first official kiss as a couple, Lily. I’m nervous, are you?” She swallowed audibly and nodded, nervous that it thinking, hell yeah, but just nodded, speechless.
My lips brushed lightly across hers, and I stroked my nose over her face, inhaling the scent on her skin. The noise from the queue of girls was deafening, but then they seemed to disappear. It was only me and Lily then.
Tilting my head, I began to kiss her. Our lips melding and my tongue traced the seam of her lips. Her lips parted, and the feel of our hot, wet tongues tangling was electric. A rash of goosebumps coursed through the both of us.
My hand sweeping up the side of her body until my fingers fanned through her hair. Wrapping it in my hand, I pressed the back of her head and pushed her closer into my face to deepen the kiss. The sensation between our connection and the tingling in my body was incredible. My dick was almost broaching the waistband of my jeans, thickening and straining with every passing second of our kiss.
Needing more contact, I placed my hand on her lower back and pushed our bodies flush against each other and made a subtle friction movement between us, and moaned at how fucking delicious Lily was. I was in ecstasy just kissing her.
Finally, when I broke the kiss, we both stood breathlessly staring at each other. “Wow.” One of the girls shouted, “Oh. My, God! That was so fucking hot.” Another screeched.
Smirking, I was still staring at my Lily, and I chuckled softly. Slowly I broke her gaze and turned to the group, still smiling.
“Damned straight it was,” I shouted, as I pulled her tightly to me, squeezing her ass.
Giggling, Lily was embarrassed and bowed her head into my chest. I slid my hand around her waist again and began to walk us into the club.
Jack had been standing by silently. “Thank God you stopped. For a moment there, I thought I was going to have to do my boy-scout-thing and erect a tent for privacy. I would have called out for you to get a room, but I doubt you would have heard anything with what was happening between you.”
Lily swiped his arm, feeling a little embarrassed. “It wasn’t that bad Jack.” Smirking, I leaned into her ear. “How long do we have to stay here? I need to get you alone, babe.”
Frowning, she said, “After that display, we’re definitely not going to be alone, not just yet. We still have a lot of things to hash out between us.” Damn, I was pissed she was taking it slowly, because all I wanted to do was rip those lace panties off I just knew she’d be wearing, and fuck her all night long.
“Lily, you’re not being fair here.”
“Alfie, just trust me. If we’re doing this, we need to give this our best shot. I’m not rushing that, because this is our now- or- never- moment, a chance to make things work out between us.”
“You’re really serious about being with me this time aren’t you?” I laced my fingers in hers and brought our hands to my lips.
“You have no idea how happy you are making me feel right now. I’ve agonized about the last time I left you, because I should never have gone. I wanted to put you first… always, Lily. I am desperately in love with you, and I’m desperate to show you how much. But if you need me to wait a little longer, I’ll try.”
Lily took my head in her hands and pulled my face to hers. Standing still, I let her I kissed my eyes and peppered little kisses over my face until I couldn’t stand it any longer, and I ran tongue along her lips taking another kiss from her.
“Are you going to suck faces all night or is the big shot rock star going to put his hand in his pocket and buy us all a drink?” Jack had decided he had enough of our ‘love fest,’ and Lily and I grinned at each other.
That night I was on cloud fucking nine. Full of fun and feeling the best I had felt in a long time, and I kept Lily beside me all night, no one was getting near her. I had told Drew to warn everyone to stay out of my fucking way if they wanted to keep their heads.
One rocky moment during the night was when some groupies in the club made a play for me when Lily was in the restroom. Used to dealing with this kind of event, I tried to remain light-hearted in my conversation, but Henry was hovering at the side.
When one of the girls decided to run her hand through my hair, I drew the line. Moving my head back, I caught her wrist and pushed her arm gently back at her. Henry moved between the two of us and began to walk toward her giving her the momentum to move back.
While this was happening, another tried to sit on my lap, but I turned to the side and she missed. Looking up I saw Lily coming toward me.
“Sorry ladies, I only have eyes for my girl, and if you don’t mind, we’d like a little privacy
now.” Most disappeared, but a couple persisted, thinking that they could give Lily a run for their money. Stupid girls. I just ignored them and kissed Lily until they got the message and left us alone.
They mainly dispersed after that, but if others came up and began to annoy me by ignoring her and hitting on me, I would kiss her and pretend like they didn’t exist.
All things considered it was a great night, and apart from a few gripes from Lennon about the tour, everyone seemed happy with the arrangements. Lily was resistant to coming home with me or to me going back to hers, and we arranged to spend some time during the day on Christmas Eve.
I was deliriously happy, I couldn’t think of anything else I wanted in the world until Lily invited Layla, my aunt, and me to spend Christmas day with everyone. Lily and Jack’s parents had flown over for Christmas because Lily wasn’t able to make it home. So with Jack, Rosie, Lennon, and Cody they had a pretty full house. Lily’s parents had rented a huge six bedroom villa for the week so that everyone could be together.
Elle and Jack were great at helping with my present lists, but her and Drew left to fly to London for Christmas day. Our personal assistant dealt with the presents and by Christmas Eve morning I was over at my aunt’s place meeting with her and Layla. Obviously, because of the nature of mine and Lily’s relationship, Layla hadn’t got to meet her yet, but she’d listened to me for hours at a time pouring my heart down the line.
Talking to Keiron Hughes at Sly Records was easier than I thought it was going to be. “Alfie, they’re great. If you want XrAid and Rick wants XrAid it will be a platform for us to launch them in Europe, so it’s a win-win situation.”
Details? Well, all we needed to know was that we were going on tour, everything else was for others to worry about. As long as I turned up and did my gig on time and stayed sober, everyone was happy.
Lily had negotiated half the tour with us and half with Rick, and I was pig fucking sick about that, but it was only two weeks she’d work with him, and I’d be able to see her twice in that time.
We’d be traveling on the bus with Drew and Elle, and that would give us a small group to hang with but privacy as well. The only thing that was worrying me a bit was security around Lily. Some of the women got pretty damn hot on me, especially when we were transferring from the transport to the venues.
Love with Every Beat Page 47
