“You … want that?”
Lyric lets out a loud breath. “I don’t want to scare you off, but yeah. I fucking want that. My father would absolutely think I’m making the wrong decision, but the thing is, I promised myself, and my mother, that I would do things differently. I want to be smart about this, and Cameron’s offer is shiny and pretty and one of those insane change your life type deals. My dad wouldn’t have even hesitated to leave his family for an offer like that. But you have to remember the last thing I wanted was to become like him.”
His words begin to sink in, and hope starts to grow. I didn’t think he’d make this choice. I haven’t allowed myself to believe he would.
“What happens if Harley’s idea fails?” I ask. “What if he can’t get the other three Eleven guys on board and doesn’t have the funding to even cut your album?”
I’m not trying to push him away, but I need him to be sure.
He leans forward. “Then I’m hoping my family will be there to cheer me on while I put myself out there time and time again to find another contract like it.”
“Your family …” The pounding against my rib cage grows.
Lyric shrugs. “Yeah. You know, Chord. Brenna. Chase.”
“Oh.” My heart sinks, and I turn away.
“There’s the reaction I want. I’m gonna say something that you’re probably not going to like, and then I’m going to hold my breath and pray you don’t run away. Or kick me out …”
“What?”
“I want you and Kaylee, and hell, even Maggie to be part of my family too. I want you to ask me to move in with you for real, and I want everything with you.”
“Yes,” I blurt. “Sign the contract with Harley. Move in. Be with me.”
The idea of it is perfect, but there’s one problem we haven’t discussed.
Lyric moves to kiss me, but I stop him. His face falls.
“I know you want to come out to the media, but—”
Lyric cups my face. “Being an out artist is important to me. You know that. But I will do anything to protect our little girl. The media doesn’t need to know who I sleep with, just that I’m gay.”
“Our little girl.” I love the sound of that.
“If she’ll have me. She’s known to be picky, you know.”
I huff. “She loves you, but if you’re living here, it might tip the paparazzi off.”
“We’ll work something out—a cover story. They already know I’m Kaylee’s nanny. Maybe we formed a bromance during that time. Maybe my awesome producer is letting me crash with him while we work on my album which might take a really, really, really long time to get out.”
“Because of all the sex we’ll have in the studio?”
Lyric laughs. “Yeah, we just won’t tell them that part. I promise you we can both be in music and still protect Kaylee. And with Maggie on board …”
I suck in a sharp breath. “We’re really doing this?”
“All you have to say is yes.”
“Fuck yes.”
Lyric grins. “Even better.”
A hot, wet mouth makes its way down my chest, and in my half-asleep state, all I can do is moan and hope it’s real.
My hand seeks Lyric’s hair and tangles in the loose locks as my hips thrust upward.
I have no idea what time it is, but that nagging father instinct is on alert. “Where’s Kaylee? Do we have time before she wakes up?”
Lyric chuckles against my skin.
I crack open my eyes and stare down at him.
“It’s past ten, sleepyhead. Kaylee’s been awake for hours.”
I blink and then glance around the room. “And you got up with her?”
“It is my job. Technically.”
I beckon for him to come up higher. “I know it’s still your job, but I hope you don’t feel that’s all you are to her.”
He climbs my body so we’re face-to-face, and I feel his hard cock against mine. “I don’t.” He bites his lip. “How do you think she’ll take the news today?”
“That you’re moving in? She won’t even blink. You practically live here now anyway except for the days you have Chase. And speaking of Chase, how do you think your brother and Brenna will handle it?”
He lowers his head and buries it in my neck. “I don’t know, but it’s not like I won’t still be able to take Chase. We’ll just have to work out a different schedule.”
“You won’t be able to once your work with Harley starts.”
“I know. And Chord already knows that too.”
I smile up at him. “Today’s going to be a good day. It’s all happening for you.”
Lyric cups my cheek. “For us.”
I nod. “For us.”
It’s a monumental day. Lyric signs with Harley today, and we decided to throw a little signing party. While we’re all here, with Lyric’s family and mine, we’ll tell them our big news.
“We should get up and start setting up for the day. And no doubt Kaylee will be running up here any minute.” I grind my hips beneath him. “As much as I’d love to stay right here. I’d only need a couple of minutes.”
Lyric meets my thrusts. “Lucky for us, Maggie took Kaylee to go buy a cake for today. It was my job to come wake you.”
“Then why the fuck have we been chatting?” I run my hand down his bare back to find his naked ass in my palm. “And you’re naked? Since when?”
“Since I tried to wake you with a blowjob and you wouldn’t let me. You’re the reason we’re chatting.”
I reach between us and grip his cock. His eyes flutter closed, and his hips thrust forward. The friction on my dick makes my eyes roll back in my head.
Lyric’s hot breath lands on my skin, and my brain short-circuits to the point my hand stops moving.
“I’ve got you,” Lyric says and takes over.
I’m right. It only takes a few minutes of stroking and grinding for me to come without even having taken off my underwear, and it doesn’t take Lyric much longer.
“That’s a nice way to wake up,” I murmur, sleep claiming my voice.
“Sounds like I almost put you back to sleep.”
“Mm, I want to sleep more.”
“One full-night’s sleep in five years and you want even more? So greedy. But I think Maggie and Kaylee will be back soon, and we should probably clean up the mess in your underwear.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Shower?”
“I will never say no to showering with you.”
“I’ll never say no to you for anything.” I don’t realize how much I mean that until the words are out there.
I’d do anything for the man on top of me.
I’ve never had this kind of fullness in my heart with anyone but Kaylee.
Lyric has wormed his way inside, but instead of it feeling like an intrusion, it’s comforting.
It’s a complete feeling—an infinite promise.
I just have to build up the courage to tell him so.
Lyric tries to climb off me, but I stop him and suck in a sharp breath. I prepare to say the words dancing on the tip of my tongue. “Lyric, I …” I’m falling for you. I’ve fallen for you.