I knew it was my fault Joe died. I didn’t need to have it spat in my face by total strangers. And what was it they were saying about Nick? How did that have anything to do with me? I began to question myself. Had it been some kind of domino effect that, unbeknownst to me, I had created with the smallest of ripples all those years ago?
I was frozen to the spot with fear. It was as though I had stepped into some modern version of Dante’s Inferno and I was about to be eaten alive by demons, and I realised that stepping out of the house on my own had been a mistake of gargantuan proportions. I hadn’t expected them to be around, let alone to be interested in a nobody like me. But where were the security guards? Why was no one coming to my aide?
Suddenly, like a light in the darkness of the moment, the crowds parted and I tilted my chin to see the concerned blue eyes of Simeon Delaney staring down at me. Had I passed out? Was I dreaming? I honestly couldn’t tell.
But then he leaned in and told me, “Allie, it’s me. I’ve got you. Come on.� Suddenly, I was floating in his arms as he carried me back to the safety of the house. All I could hear was the whooshing of blood in my ears, and all I could feel was the angry thundering of Si’s heart against my cheek. I think I must have blacked out at that point. Probably with relief. The next thing I knew, I was being placed gently down on the sofa.
Si had saved me. He had come to my rescue and scared away the wolves. I was a shaking, sobbing mess, and he could’ve been seriously hurt out there, but all he was concerned about was my wellbeing. He smoothed the hair back from my face and wiped the tears away. My heart ached and the tears came again.
Chapter 17
Si
*
Allie was quiet for the rest of the day. Understandably so. She had never experienced the crazy, dark side of fame before, and I think it had been quite the eye-opener. She had retreated to the bedroom after her bath, and Mum had checked in on her several times throughout the afternoon but Allie had insisted she was fine.
Eventually, when I went up to go to bed, the room was in darkness and I presumed she was asleep. After brushing my teeth and showering, I went back to the room and climbed into bed as quietly as I could. My mind was still whirring from the events of the day and I was trying to process everything. It had been the first time I had been truly angry at the press and fans. Admittedly, that was probably due to the fact they had accosted Allie, and a protective streak had reared its head from within me. But my mum’s words were what foxed me the most. Had she, in a roundabout way, given me her blessing to pursue a relationship with Allie? Not that it made any difference because Allie had made it clear that any attraction to me was purely physical. And as much as I would have loved to have taken advantage of the fact, I told myself that to do so would be stupid and harmful to both of us in the long term.
And, anyway, my feelings for her were deeper than that.
I was just about dozing off when I heard sniffing and quiet sobs.
Concern gripped me and I sat up. “Allie, are you okay?�
The noises stopped completely, as if she was holding her breath.
“Allie?�
She sighed heavily. “I’m so sorry, Si. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just… I keep replaying the whole of today’s debacle in my mind and I can’t believe how stupid I was to go out without checking with someone first. I should know these things happen. I should have been prepared.�
“Hey, you weren’t to know that the vultures were hovering. This isn’t something you’re used to and it’s been so quiet for the last few days, so how could you know? Don’t be so hard on yourself.�
Silence again.
“Si?� Her voice croaked.
“Yeah?�
“Can I sleep beside you? I think I’d settle better.� I clenched my jaw. Of course I wanted to help her, but to be in the same bed? She must have sensed my trepidation. “Don’t worry about it. I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry.�
Guilt niggled at me for being so selfish. Come on. Step up, you fucking loser. “Hey, no. Come on over, Allie. It’s fine.�
The next thing I heard was her footsteps padding across the dark space and then the mattress dipped as she climbed into the single bed beside me. It was a tight squeeze, so I lifted my arm and she settled into my side with her head on my chest. This was the one place I had wanted her to be for God knows how long. Only I’d dreamt of it being under better circumstances.
After a few moments, Allie whispered, “Are you sleeping?�
“No. Not yet.�
“I just wanted to say thank you for today. You were amazing. You were like some superhero out there, and I’m so grateful to you for saving me like that. I really mean it. The way you carried me back to the house when I was frozen and couldn’t move. I was… floored.�
I shrugged. “It was nothing. I hated that they did that to you and I wasn’t going to stand there and let them harass you.�
She stretched up towards me and placed a gentle kiss on my bearded chin and my heart began to hammer at my chest. It was a simple, sweet gesture, but being in such close proximity to her was messing with my head.
Before she could retreat, I slipped my hand into her hair, smoothing my thumb over her cheekbone. “I want to kiss you. But I know I shouldn’t,� I whispered.
I could feel her warm breath increase in speed as it met my lips and she replied, “Who says you shouldn’t?�
Tentatively, I leaned towards her once again and found her lips parted in readiness. I kissed her tenderly at first, wary about taking advantage of her fragile state, but when she increased the fervour of the kiss, I was swept along on a wave of deep lust and the love I had harboured for her for so long. A little voice in the back of mind told me I would regret it, but I swatted the thought away as she pulled her body flush with mine—my arousal no doubt evident to her between the two thin layers of fabric acting as a barrier.
She moved away, and for a moment I expected her to go back to her own bed, but instead, when she lay down in my arms once again, I felt the heat of her bare skin against my chest. Her breasts brushed against me and her thigh hooked over my hip. She wanted me as much as I wanted her—well, physically, at least.
I moved my mouth to her neck and nibbled on the soft skin there, eliciting gasps and whispered moans from her throat. Her hand slipped down my back, creating a trail of shivers, and my erection flinched. She pushed me onto my back and began to slip my boxers down my thighs. I knew I should’ve stopped her but I really didn’t want to.
After a little fumbling, I felt her stretching a condom onto me and I clenched my jaw at the pleasurable sensations of her hands touching me so intimately. The bed dipped again and she straddled my hips, sinking down onto me and sighing as she took me in. As she began to move on top of me, I lost myself in her body and the way she made me feel; like every nerve ending was alight with electricity and pleasure. I couldn’t get close or deep enough. I wished I had turned on a lamp so I could watch her… watch our bodies where they joined, and see her face flush and her pupils dilate.
I pulled myself up so I could take her mouth with my own. Our tongues caressed each other’s as our teeth greedily nibbled and our skin heated to almost combustion. Toying with her nipples with one hand, I gripped her with my other and thrust up into her with urgency as my climax began to build, and I could feel her tightening around me. The only sounds in the room were those of our bodies connecting and our heavy, pleasured breaths.
She gripped my shoulders and buried her face in the crook of my neck as her orgasm hit, and I followed soon after, trying desperately not to cry out my release.
She sat there in my lap and held on for a while until our breathing cal
med, and then she moved to my side. Once I was rid of the condom, I laid back and wondered what to expect. Would she bail? Would she stay? To my surprise, she snuggled into my side again and pulled the duvet over to cover our damp bodies.
I slipped my arm around her and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight.�
She made a sweet contented noise and nuzzled closer. “Mmm… night.�
I laid awake for a while, trying to memorise everything that had taken place. It had felt different than the first time and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. But something had shifted between us and I hoped to God this hadn’t been her way of saying thank you for coming to her rescue. She owed me nothing. I lazily ran my fingertips up and down her arm and relished the feeling of her naked skin next to mine, and only when her breathing had levelled and it was clear she was asleep did I whisper, “I love you so much. I just wish you loved me back.�
Chapter 18
Si
*
When I awoke, Allie was propped up, watching me, with her head resting on her hand. I smiled and rubbed my blurry eyes. “Good morning, sunshine.� I couldn’t help the grin that stretched my face. To say I was ecstatic to find her still in my bed was an understatement.
“Good morning. Your mum knocked earlier to say she and your dad were going out for a walk.�
I lurched to a sitting position. “Fuck! Did she see…? Did you…? Were you—?� I gestured between us and at the door like a nutter.
She giggled and shook her head. “Your face. Silly Si. She didn’t come in, you daft thing. She just knocked on the door and I answered her through it, telling her you were still asleep.�
Thank fuck for that. And then a fresh horror hit me. “Oh, bollocks! They went out alone? But yesterday? What about—?�
Allie placed a finger over my lips. “They have a bodyguard with them. It’s all fine. You can stop panicking now. And you can come and make me some breakfast.� She climbed out of bed and I watched her gorgeous naked arse as she walked across the room to pull on some clothes. I realised I was staring at her and lifted my gaze to meet hers. She licked her lips.
“I’m ravenous this morning. Can’t think why.� There was a rush of blood south of my waistline at her sultry intimation and I swallowed hard. She smiled seductively. “Don’t get any ideas, Mister. I’m hungry for food.� Now fully clothed, she walked back over to me and bent to kiss my head, but I grabbed her and pulled her down on top of me.
“I could make you forget all about breakfast if you’d let me.� I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked longingly at her lips.
She raised her eyebrows. “I’m sure you could. But seriously, come on. I really am hungry.�
I closed my eyes briefly, and when I opened them again, her expression had changed. Gone was the playful smile she had worn only moments ago.
I sighed. “What the fuck are we doing, Allie?�
She shook her head. “I… I don’t know.� Her voice was small and quiet. “I just know that I don’t want it to stop. Not yet.�
I clenched my jaw and chose my next words carefully. “I don’t want it to stop ever. But I get the feeling that it will.�
An air of melancholy began to descend and I decided to lighten the mood. If there was only to be an ‘us’ for a limited time, it needed to be fun and memorable. I would deal with the sadness on my own time.
I reached down and smacked her arse. “Last one to the kitchen cooks.�
She yelped and shoved herself out of my embrace. “Not fair! I wanted you to cook.�
I leapt to my feet, naked as the day I was born, and tried to swat her gorgeous backside again. “You know what to do then.�
She giggled and tried to dodge me. “You’d better put some clothes on! You can’t be walking around starkers, Delaney.�
“Nah. It’s only my folks and you!� I teased, and her eyes widened.
“You wouldn’t!�
I burst into laughter. “Your face. Of course I wouldn’t. There could be bloody paps out there with zoom lenses. I don’t want my junk all over the tabloids!� I bent to collect my joggers from the floor.
“Well, I’m off down to the kitchen right now so it looks like you’re cooking.� She smacked my arse this time before dashing out the door, laughing her head off.
I rubbed the bare skin where it smarted but I was still grinning like an idiot. “Oh, you’ll pay for that, Kendry! Just you wait!�
���
Knowing full well breakfast was on me, I took a shower, figuring there was no point rushing to get downstairs. I decided I’d make her wait for her food and I grinned at my sly, devious plan. Once I was dried and dressed in my joggers and a ratty old Sonic Idols T-shirt, I went down to the kitchen.
Allie had started to make breakfast for me, in spite of her earlier protestations.
I smiled and shook my head as she handed me a mug of freshly brewed coffee. “You’re too sweet, you know that, Kendry?�
She put her hand over her heart. “Aww, Delaney, you’ll say anything to get your hands on my bacon.�
I chuckled. I slipped my arm around her waist and nuzzled her ear. “Is that what we’re calling it now?�
She whacked my chest with the spatula. “Cheeky.� But then her attention darted to the back door. “Ooh, shit. I think your folks are back.�
Getting the hint, I stepped away quickly as my mum and dad walked into the kitchen.
“Hey, kids. What’ve you been up to?� Mum asked as she removed her coat.
Allie’s cheeks tinged bright pink and I had to stifle a laugh before informing her, “Erm, not much. Just cracking the whip so this woman here would make me some breakfast.�
Mum rolled her eyes. “Oh, I bet you did no such thing. Allie wouldn’t stand for nonsense from Joe, so she certainly isn’t going to stand for it from his baby brother.�
I glanced over at Allie again, just in time to see her skin pale and her expression change. And with that one jokey sentence from my mum, my bubble was burst.
After breakfast, I once again retreated to the shed with the old guitar and the scraps of paper tucked inside the notebook I’d been scribbling in. I’d been sitting there for around twenty minutes when there was a gentle knock on the door. I lifted my chin to see Allie, arms folded across her chest, leaning on the open doorframe.
“Hi, Allie. What’s up?� I turned the paper over and put the pen on top of it.
“Just wanted to check in on you. Are you okay? You went quiet when your folks arrived home.�
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Just figured I’d leave you to chat with them for a bit. It’s a nice sunny day so I thought I’d come in here.�
She scrunched her face and giggled. “In here where the sun isn’t?�
Okay, so she had a point. I laughed and nodded. “Yeah, it does sound a bit daft, I suppose. I just… aww, nothing.�
She stepped inside. “You just what? What’s up, Si?�
I waved a hand dismissively. “Like I said, it’s nothing. What’re you up to?�
She pulled her lip between her teeth briefly and I watched, mesmerised, until she snapped me back to reality. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m spying on you. What are you writing? Am I ever going to get to see?�
I felt my cheeks heating up and I glanced down at the paper. “Nope. Not a chance.�
She stepped closer still and touched the tip of her
tongue to her teeth. “Oh, come on. How will you know if it’s any good if you don’t give it an audience?� She pouted and I was momentarily distracted again by her sensual mouth.
I reached and scratched the back of my neck. “It’s not worthy of an audience, that’s why.�
She lurched forward before I could react and grabbed the piece of paper.
I stumbled to my feet and the guitar fell to the floor with a clanging thud. “Give me that back, Allie. I mean it now. Come on.�
She held the paper aloft and giggled. “Nope. Not until I’ve read it.�
I jumped towards her but she ran out of the shed and towards the back of the garden where the old tree stood. I followed in hot pursuit. I had to get that paper back before she read it.
She could bloody run and dodge like a professional footy player, and I couldn’t get my hands on her. After what felt like an age, I bent double to catch my breath and then the worst thing happened.
She climbed up onto the lowest branch of the tree, cleared her throat dramatically, and began to read aloud. “Your heart beats next to mine but I wait for you to leave, I’ve wanted for so long to wear my heart upon my sleeve. I want to see you laugh, to see the light upon your face. The one he used to put there, that no one could erase. I’ve loved you for so long now and you don’t even know, how much my heart will break when it’s time for me to go. I want to see you laugh, see the light upon your face, and I wish that I could put it there, but I can’t be in his place.�
I watched in painful silence as her teasing, mocking smile rapidly faded and she lifted her gaze from the page and locked it on me.
She shook her head and confusion creased her brow. “This is… it’s…� She glanced at the paper again in disbelief. “You wrote this about… it’s about me, isn’t it?�
In His Place: Sonic Idols Book #2 Page 10
