by Reid, B. B.
Finally reaching Houston, he lifted me, wrapped my legs around his waist, and kissed me deeply as if it had been days instead of hours. Our lips were still attached when he carried me inside while Loren trailed us.
“Any change?” I asked him as we moved through the house.
“Temperature’s dropped two degrees.”
Loren rushed past us at hearing that news, and we followed him into one of the bedrooms a few seconds later. Rich, also shirtless and wearing jeans, was sleeping in the rocking chair with his head back and mouth open as he snored like a bear. Like Loren, he’d made some changes too. His hair was no longer shaggy but cut short, and his eyes were no longer sad but filled with the confidence of someone who’d found their place in the world.
The drummer was completely oblivious to our presence after being up all night.
“Da-da.”
It was all the permission Loren, who was standing over the crib, needed. He reached inside and lifted our son from his bed. He started bouncing his chunky butt excitedly in his father’s arms despite his fever that forced our trip to be quick.
“Missed you too, tough guy.”
Finally spotting me, our baby started squealing, which startled his father out of his sleep. Rich shot to his feet before realizing we were in the room and relaxing but only slightly. Houston set me down, and I went to him.
“Sorry to wake you.”
“It’s okay,” he told me in a groggy voice. After scrubbing his eyes, he grabbed me and kissed me briefly before turning to our son, who was babbling excitedly at the four of us. “Coda, what are you doing awake, man? We had an agreement.”
Coda.
The beginning of the final passage.
Or, in our case, the start of our happily ever after. I didn’t think it was possible to feel any more complete until his arrival a year ago.
He definitely hadn’t been planned.
Too much time on the road hadn’t allowed me to remember birth control.
Red hair.
Brown eyes.
Moody as hell.
Without a DNA test, I couldn’t be sure who’d fathered him. I didn’t care, and neither did Houston, Loren, and Jericho. Coda would always have three fathers.
Our son reached out, and Jericho carefully took him in his tattooed hands. He’d gotten the piece at the same time Loren and Houston had gotten theirs.
Whatever had been responsible for me smelling and tasting my emotions never returned, and maybe it never would.
So Houston, Loren, and Jericho had tattooed themselves and filled every hall and room of our home with lilacs so that I never forget what love smells like.
The house lights lowered, and the roar was deafening.
Backstage at The Forum, I waited with them.
“Okay?”
I met each of their gazes—green, opaque, and silver.
Once I nodded, they smiled and pushed forward. I watched them take their places on stage. I listened to Houston’s song through my eyes—red, blue, and purple shapes lighting up the arena—as they roused the crowd.
This was always meant to be.
It was what they’d told me four years ago, and I’d believed them.
I still do.
Free from Savant, they could do whatever they wanted.
We could do whatever we wanted.
Smiling, I put one foot in front of the other until the spotlight bathed me with the loves of my life standing behind me.
And then I, Bound’s new front man, lifted my mic.
You crept in like the dawn
You showed me a new day
But instead of bringing light
You followed me into darkness
Belligerent, bellicose, broken, bound
We painted our revolution backward
Eventually, we found love
Broken Love Series
Fear Me
Fear You
Fear Us
Breaking Love
Fearless
Stolen Duet
The Bandit
The Knight
When Rivals Play Series
The Peer and the Puppet
The Moth and the Flame
Evermore (novella)
The Punk and the Plaything
The Prince and the Pawn
Standalones
Lilac
Lilac is what happens when you color outside the lines. It’s such a freeing experience. This story certainly taught me how to live a little. It turned out to be so much more complex than I intended. These characters gave and gave and it took me by surprise. I couldn’t walk away. When I first thought of Braxton, Houston, Loren, and Jericho, they were college students, but after being in the When Rivals Play series for three years, I needed to get away from all that teenage angst and turn up the heat a little. Thank you so much for taking a chance on Lilac. If you loved them, stick around. I’m a sucker for bonus scenes.
This book, while so much fun to write, also had its moments where I thought I’d go insane. Tijuana, you were with me every step of the way—for the good writing days and the bad. Thank you for letting me ramble, vent, and absolutely lose my marbles whenever I needed. Sunny, we are truly the blind leading the blind. Lilac is done thanks to you cheering me on. Now, let’s see about getting yours written this century. I’ve got my pom-poms and bullhorn ready. Amanda, the first six thousand drinks are on me, one for every ludicrous idea I thought of and you made happen. Rogena and Colleen, my fearsome duo, no one does dedication and patience like you two. I also swear I don’t sit and think of ways to break your back each book. Somehow, I manage anyway. Jamie, thank you so much for holding the fort down when I’m offline. It’s hard to think it’s been six years since we found each other through Fear Me. Stacey, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we get to grab lunch one of these times I’m in Florida. Bring the pecan pie! Nina, and her amazing team at Valentine PR, thank you for your wisdom, expertise, versatility, and care. Thank you to my faithful, loyal readers who I would not be here without. Now that we’ve met …onward! Mom…yes, I know. You were cut for me. You’ll always be at the top of my list even when you’re at the bottom. Love you.
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B.B. Reid is the author of several novels including the hit enemies-to-lovers, Fear Me. She grew up the only daughter and middle child in a small town in North Carolina. After graduating with a Bachelors in Finance, she started her career at an investment research firm while continuing to serve in the National Guard. She currently resides in Charlotte with her moody cat and enjoys collecting Chuck Taylors and binge-eating chocolate.
