Twisted Heartstrings Read online

  Lucius is in front of me within moments. I hide my face in my hands only for him to pull them away before pulling me into his arms. I allow myself to seek comfort in his embrace, hoping that he doesn't feel pity for me. I hated when anyone felt pity for me; I got enough of that growing up.

  When he knows I've stopped crying, he shifts enough to tip my head up to his. In his eyes I see warm tenderness before he leans in to kiss me. I should have pushed him away. I should have left before falling asleep. But whatever is drawing us together stopped me from doing what I know I should do.

  I gasp when Lucius pulls me tighter against his body. I can feel him moving us as he deepens the kiss. He's shifting me on the bed and settling above me, his weight pressing me to the mattress. With a knee, he parts my legs to settle between them. His heavy erection hits the spot where I crave him the most, causing desire to ignite inside of me. I moan into his mouth when he rubs himself against me, my toes curling with the sensations flitting through me.

  “This is what you do to me,” he whispers against my lips, as he rolls his hips against my throbbing core. “This is what you did to me the first time I saw you. I wanted you back then as much as I want you now. I'm not always patient when it comes to something I want, but I'll try to be patient with you while you figure out if you want me as much as I do you.”

  Would he still want me knowing the terrible secret of me having slept with his bandmate?

  “I do want you. I'm scared to want you, to have you,” I admit. I can't believe that I admitted that to him. My heart’s beating hard against my chest with embarrassment.

  “Scared of what?” he asks softly.

  “Of getting hurt. Of hurting you. Of making a mess of everything.” If my secret gets out it would hurt all of us, me most of all.

  “No relationship is perfect, baby. All you have to do is try.”

  “Ok,” I whisper, hoping I’m not making a mistake.

  He kisses me again with tenderness, breaking the kiss only to pull his shirt from my body before starting to explore me with his hands and mouth. When he reaches my swollen breasts, I can't help the moan that slips out when his mouth sucks in my pebbled nipple. My back arches, offering him more. Offering me.

  Aroused beyond anything I have felt before, I squirm against him. One of his hands grips me by the ass as he grinds into me. I'm aroused to the point that I know I’m weeping from my opening. My clit is swollen, begging to be touched.

  “Lucius,” I beg, not sure what exactly I’m begging for. When Lucius pulls back, I whimper at the loss of contact.

  “Fuck that's hot, seeing you in my boxers,” he groans before pulling them down my legs. “But they have to go.”

  I let out a giggle before his mouth descends onto mine. One hand seeks lower, slipping through my wet folds, parting them and finding the bundle of nerves begging for attention. I gasp as pleasure takes my body soaring, an orgasm ripping through me. His mouth muffling my cries.

  His fingers slip into my opening, stretching me. My fingers that had dug into his shoulders relaxed enough to continue to roam over his muscled back and arms.

  Pulling away, he walks over to where his wallet is sitting on the dresser. I watch as he pulls out a foiled package, and I’m silently thankful that he has protection, because I burn to feel him within me.

  I stare as he shoves his boxers down his legs and returns to me. His swollen shaft rises toward his navel, thick with desire. I can only hope I’m prepared enough to take him; he's larger than my previous three boyfriends.

  Climbing back onto the bed, he settles into the place he vacated moments before.

  “Lucius,” I beg. I don't know why I’m begging, other than for wanting him.

  Ripping the package with his teeth, he makes quick work of sheathing himself. Leaning down to kiss me again he positions himself at my entrance, teasingly so.

  “Lucius, please,” I beg again.

  He slowly starts to sink into me, advancing and retreating until I've taken all of him. His hissing grunts are the only acknowledgement of my tightness around him. He goes slowly, allowing me to adjust to his size. All I can feel is burning pain that becomes pleasure as my body accepts him. It's been so long since I've been with anyone that even I knew I was tight.

  I move my hips in an attempt to take him deeper, matching him thrust for wonderful thrust. His slow, steady pace is driving me mad. “Lucius,” I plead, wanting more.

  He increases the speed of his thrusts. I cling to him, knowing he will take me to the bliss we both seek. I wrap my legs around his back, gasping at the position change as my hips slip upward. My pleasure building, pooling, waiting to be pushed over the edge.

  My orgasm takes me by storm, coming on suddenly and crashing down on me. My whole body tenses, then I explode into a million pieces. I cry out into Lucius's shoulder before sinking my teeth into the soft flesh.

  It's as if a switch is flicked. Lucius begins to power into me until he slams into me one last time, holding himself there as he lets out a grunt before slowly thrusting through the rest of his release.

  “I didn't hurt you, did I?” he asks tenderly, as he brushes the ash blonde hair from my face.

  “No, why would you have?” I ask breathlessly.

  “You were pretty tight even with my impatient attempt at getting you ready. It's like you haven't had sex in forever.”

  “It's been about two years, since my last relationship,” I reply. My cheeks burn with embarrassment. I hate having to admit how long it's been.

  There’s a loud bang on the bedroom door and Lucius curses. Slipping from my body, he quickly removes the used condom and tosses it into the garbage can before yanking on his discarded boxers. I pull the covers over me, not wanting to be seen naked. Lucius glances back to make sure I’m decent before opening the door.

  Alucard looms in the door. “Fuck, Lucius, get ready. We're supposed to be doing the interview this afternoon, and we need to leave in 30 minutes. If you'd been answering your fucking phone you would know that.”

  I blush even more when Alucard glares at me, as if he's accusing me of being a distraction. It's like he expected me to leave when Keri left. I bite my lip and look away, suddenly unsure of what I should be doing, or if I should have agreed to try.

  Lucius closes the door in his brother's face. He picks up the t-shirt I'd worn last night and tosses it on the bed. “Put that back on. We can have a quick shower to get cleaned up before we have to go.”

  “Why don't you go have your shower and I'll get changed to head home.”

  “You can have a shower with me, then we'll stop at your place along the way so you can get changed and pack an overnight bag. I want you to come with me,” he says.

  Letting out a sigh, I pull the shirt on and take his offered hand.

  Chapter Seven

  Toni

  True to his word, we have a quick shower and stop at my place so I can get changed before the car service takes us to the theater where they had their show the night before. Lucius holds my hand as he leads the way backstage where the rest of the guys are waiting.

  Alucard is glaring at me when we enter the room. It’s like any other theater, with a wide-open backstage area that has high ceilings and tons of storage space for props and equipment. The rest of the guys are standing around talking, with Alucard facing toward where we entered. I don't know what I did to piss him off, but his attitude has changed completely since the night before. Maybe he’s having a mood swing or he doesn't like the fact that his brother and I have spent all this time together. Maybe he doesn't want his brother to be with anyone, especially after how Nikki treated him.

  Releasing my hand, Lucius joins the guys. My boss is staring between me and Lucius. I shift uncomfortably, knowing he will probably figure out something is going on between us and ask me about it later. The last thing I want is my boss to know what is happening in my personal life.

  Christoph and Nicholai both seem to be amused, wearing Cheshire cat-like gri
ns. Jasper looks like he doesn't even care; he looks bored. I just hope I wasn't recognized from seven years ago as a girl who had a one night stand, but I doubt he recognizes me since he never approached me at the bar six years ago. But they are talking about something, probably me, with how two of them keep sneaking glances my way and grinning. I can tell they’re up to something that they aren't sharing with the others.

  Alucard is still glaring at me, but his expression softens as Lucius speaks. He doesn't look happy with what Lucius must have been saying, but he respects his brother. Whatever Lucius is saying to his brother, it looks like he’s accepting it, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know what it is.

  Moments later, Lucius returns to me with a grin on his face. Clearly, he was up to no good while talking to the guys, but I can't help but smile. He’s attractive no matter his expression, but that grin makes my knees go weak. In most of the pictures I've seen of him he's always had a brooding, almost serious expression, or occasionally a smirk.

  Taking my hand again, he leads me over to where my boss and the rest of the band are waiting. We move from backstage to a lounge area that is being used more as a dressing room. It’s set up for comfort and was a little quieter than backstage where workers milled around.

  I sit off to the side, watching as Rick asks them question after question for almost an hour. Most of the questions are regarding their new album and a few are personal, of which the guys try to avoid answering. I’m just glad that my boss doesn't ask Lucius about me; I want to keep that somewhat private.

  As Rick starts to pack up his stuff, Nicholai asks, “So is it true you want to have a personal spread done about us?” He gives me a quick glance with a sly grin and a wink.

  “Yes,” answers Rick. “But we haven't been able to reach anyone willing to talk.”

  “Toni is your research assistant, right?” Nicholai asks.

  “Yes, she is,” Rick slowly answers. He looks confused about why he’s asking.

  “Send her on tour with us. I’m sure she can find the answers you want,” Nicholai suggests.

  Christoph is grinning at Nicholai's suggestion, and I wonder why. I know the two of them have a reputation for clowning around, being the pranksters of the group. I saw it during the bar shows when they would switch the other’s drinks on each other.

  “I don't have the authority to make that decision. And even if I did, I wouldn’t approve of it given her personal interest,” he says with a smug and snide smile.

  My jaw drops. “Rick, my personal life has nothing to do with it.”

  “It does when you spend more time fucking one of them than actually doing research. If they want a research assistant to go with them, then I'm certain we can find an unbiased one to do the job.”

  “I guess it would depend on how badly the magazine wants to have the spread done,” Alucard threatens. “It's either her or no one. In fact, my brother dating her wouldn't get any more personal than that. We’re a family, which means at some point when we make a stop in our hometown she would get to meet the rest of our family. Even if they spend time fucking, as you so eloquently pointed out, there will be plenty of time for her to gather information. You wouldn't be expecting her to be working twenty-four seven would you? So who cares what they would do during some down time.”

  I look at Alucard, shocked at his defense of me. He's gone from glaring in hatred at me to standing up for me. I can only assume that it's something Lucius said that has changed his attitude. Even Rick seems shocked, and maybe a little pissed off. Most likely pissed off because he'll have to give in to their demand if the higher ups actually want the story. And my boss hates when he gets overruled by anything or anyone. He can be a prick when things don't go his way.

  Before I can say anything to Rick, Lucius speaks. “It wasn't her idea, it was mine. She told me one of the reasons she shouldn't get involved with me was because of her job and what the magazine wants. I suggested it for selfish reasons. She didn't like the idea and didn't think anyone would allow it. If you're going to be an asshole, you should man up and be an asshole to someone other than a woman, especially one who’s with us.”

  Getting up, Lucius reaches for my hand and leads me away. His body is tense with anger, so I don't say anything. The last thing I want is his anger directed at me. I’m surprised when he leads me back outside to the waiting car. I'm even more surprised when Alucard gets in the vehicle with us, appearing just as angry.

  Lucius wraps an arm around me, anchoring me to him. I lay my head on his shoulder and he starts to relax. I don't get why he and his brother are so mad in my defense. My boss was right in a way; they don't want research assistants to be personally involved with the subjects, and I’m already treading too deep into that territory. But this is six years in the making. From the first day I saw Lucius and Alucard, I knew I wanted them, Lucius specifically even though it was unknown at the time.

  “Where are we going?” I ask quietly, as I trail a hand up and down Lucius's arm absentmindedly.

  “We have about three hours before the show starts. That means we have about two hours to ourselves. I want to take you out for dinner, but highly doubt we'll have time, so we're just going to order room service from the hotel,” Lucius says. “Neither of us have eaten today since we slept most of the day. We usually take some down time before we have a show, try to get soundchecks done early so we can relax before we have to perform.”

  “Ok,” I reply quietly and snuggle in closer to him.

  When the car pulls up to the hotel, Alucard gets out first. Lucius grabs my bag from the floor and takes my hand. In the afternoon light the hotel looks different than it did last night, not that I was paying any attention at the time. The lower level of the hotel houses a number of different storefronts. Several floors are built to look modern with floor to ceiling windows before taking on the high-rise style construction. The main entrance brings you into a wide hallway until you come to the lobby, which sports a lounging area and the front desk. To the right of the front desk is another hallway leading to the bank of elevators that takes us to their floor. Once on their floor, I notice that Alucard enters a different room. I had thought that they shared a room.

  Lucius lets us into the room we shared last night and then heads toward the bedroom to drop off my bag. As distracted as I was the night before by Lucius, I finally take in the room. As soon as you enter the two bedroom suite, a small, but functional kitchenette is to the left with an equally small dining area that seats four. This opens into a living area with a pull-out sofa, a chair, and a functioning workstation. The two rooms are divided by the tiles from the kitchenette and carpet of the living area. Like many hotels, an entertainment stand holds a TV, and lamps are scattered around the room despite the outside wall being nothing but a window that spans half the length of the room. Across from the kitchenette is an archway opening into a hall that leads to the bedrooms. To the right of the archway is a bedroom that I assumed was Alucard's. Straight ahead of the archway is a door that might be a closet. To the left is a small hallway that leads to the second bedroom with the bathroom right before it; this is Luc's room. I assume both rooms have a TV mounted to the wall in the corner. All the decorations are the standard scenery pictures that you'd expect to find in a hotel, nothing unique or original.

  I pick up the room service menu and take a look. When Lucius enters the living area he calls down our order. As starved as I am, I hunger for something else more. As I watch Lucius move about the room, I can't help but admire the way his body moves, knowing full well the power it wields. I remember how easy it was for him to lift me, to hold himself above me as he teased me, as he made love to me.

  “Keep looking at me like that and neither of us are going to be eating,” Lucius says, bringing me back to reality from the memory I'd been replaying. “What are you thinking of?”

  “You,” I reply, looking away bashfully. “Remembering this morning, afternoon, whatever time it was.”

  Standing before me
, he tilts my head up and leans down to kiss me. Rising on my toes, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back. When he lifts me, I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. I feel my back hit the wall as he continues to deepen the kiss.

  We break apart, breathless at the sound of a knock on the door; the room service delivery. His hardness is pressing against me and my soaked thong clings to my skin, making my pulse beat erratically as I groan at the interruption. Lucius opens the door for our food delivery. I watch as the staff gets things ready for us before disappearing.

  “Hurry up and eat,” Lucius orders in a deep rasp, “I need to be inside you.”

  I lick my lips at the thought and his eyes darken with need and desire. I wanted that more than anything as well. I sit at the table beside him as we eat our food. Luc ordered a burger and fries while I opted for a pasta dish, snagging the occasional fry from his plate. The sexual tension is thick between us as we anticipate what’s to come when we finish our meal.

  Lifting me from the chair when we’re finished and cradling me against his chest, Lucius makes his way to the bedroom. Setting me down on the carpeted floor long enough for him to strip us both, he tosses a condom package on the bed before gently lowering me. The king sized mattress soft against my back, the cover from the freshly made bed feels like cool silk against my heated skin. The muted afternoon sunlight shining in from the window allows me to watch Lucius. Wanting to make sure I am ready to take him, he focuses himself between my legs. Licking, sucking, nibbling, and stretching me with his fingers. The beginnings of his five o'clock shadow tickles my skin as he moves. His fingers curl inside me, searching for the spot that's guaranteed to make me explode for him. The calluses on his fingertips cause more friction than I thought could be possible.