24. TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FOUR

O n top of the already day-long drive, we hit traffic on our way to Dallas, and it was well into the night when we finally got in. It wasn't so bad, though, except I would have preferred to keep sleeping on the bus in the parking lot rather than move into the hotel in the middle of the night.

Still, it's warmer here, as promised, and the Southern California girl in me is grateful for the sun. I stretch out on the daybed by the pool with Luca at my side and some kind of orange drink in my hand. I removed the bandage from my new carving this morning; there aren't many people at the pool right now, but the ones that do see me, stare, and I swear I saw a few of them snapping pictures of us. That's something I'm still getting used to—I guess I'm used to it at shows, but not during the day doing regular things.

But the matching 'T' carved onto his tattooed chest, right over his heart, healed and scarred nicely. And now they all know—maybe I don't own him, but he is mine in every way that matters. It triggers something primal in me that I can't quite explain.

I just want to take a fucking bite out of him.

"What?" he asks. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason," I tell him. "You're just really fucking hot. And you have a big dick."

"Is that it?" he asks, turning onto his side.

"No, that's not it. I'm pretty sure those girls over there taking selfies are actually taking pictures and videos of you. I'm thinking about how much I wish we were the only ones here so I could put it in my mouth."

"How many times do I need to tell you to be careful talking to me like that, Teagan? You might be sorry when you get what you want regardless of who's watching."

My eyes run down his body, and I notice his dick hard against his thigh. I scoot in closer and kiss him on the mouth, slipping my hand inside his swim shorts and wrapping my hand around his hardness. I stroke him just a little, running my thumb over the head, and he groans.

He takes the towel from behind his head and throws it over our waists. "Keep doing that," he says.

He relaxes against the daybed, and I work his cock between us, pumping him in my fist slowly enough not to make it obvious. Precum leaks from the tip, and I wipe it away with my thumb, making sure he sees me bring it to my mouth and suck.

"God, you're sexy," Luca says.

His dick jumps in my hand when I wrap it around him again. "I could do this all fucking day," I tell him softly.

"Of course you could," he groans. "Oh, fuck." He reaches over and moves my bikini top to the side enough to get one of my nipples free, rubbing it between his fingers.

The girls from the other side of the pool stopped taking photos about ten minutes ago, but they can't stop watching. It only makes me wetter.

I jerk him a little faster, aware that I've had him on the edge for quite a while now.

"There's going to be so much cum, Teagan," he says. "You're going to have to wrap those pretty lips around it like you wanted and take it all in front of everyone, or you're going to be covered in it."

"Tell me when, and I'll do it."

He groans again and then shouts over my shoulder, "Hey! Come over here for a second." I don't look to see who it is, but when the person he's speaking to is closer, he tells them, "Sit in front of us."

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see it's Declan, shirtless in a pair of black swim trunks, who sits down on the daybed in front of us, pulling the canopy down a bit when he does.

"Give me that mouth, baby," Luca says, with a hand in my hair. I drop my head down and take him in my mouth, licking and sucking while he thrusts into the back of my throat just a couple of times before filling it with cum. "Ah, fuck. That's it."

And there's so much of it. Just like he promised. I make sure I suck down every drop because I'm his good girl.

I come up for air when he releases his grip, wipe my mouth, and lie down beside him again. Declan glances back over his shoulder before moving into the space on my opposite side.

Right fucking next to me, in fact. Shoulder-to-shoulder.

I can feel him looking at the 'D' on my chest but can't gauge his reaction through his sunglasses—not that I'd necessarily be able to if he wasn't wearing them.

I wonder if his reaction is like mine. Visceral, carnal.

"Colleen called," Declan says.

"Yeah? What did she want?" Luca asks.

"You're trending again," he tells him. "Jessica had some things to say about you."

Luca's brow furrows. "Jessica?"

"From high school," Declan clarifies.

"Oh…like what?"

"Do you want me to tell you in front of Teagan?" he asks.

Luca shrugs. "She's heard the worst of it now anyway, hasn't she? She'll hear whatever this is, too."

"That you were a sadistic stalker, and she spent years terrified of you. Her words, not mine."

"Awesome," Luca says.

"And now Layla's family is starting up again—about how we brainwashed her and are holding her hostage."

"Yeah, well…they've been doing that for years," he says.

"Except now, she's not here to go on online and tell everyone she's fine, and they're just assholes. They haven't seen her with us in months…because she hasn't been here. And before that, she was…not herself."

"So? Post an old pic," Luca says. "I'm going to get another drink. You want another drink, Teagan?"

"Um, yeah. I'll take one."

"All right, I'll be right back. I'm so fucking glad this leg of the tour is almost over—it could not come at a better fucking time. Then, it's you and me, baby." He takes a few steps away from us before turning back and adding, "Don't slice her up while I'm gone."

"If you think I'm letting him take you abroad alone, you're fucking crazy," Declan says once he's out of earshot.

"What? Why not?"

"Because," he says, "he can barely take care of his fucking self—he can't take care of you."

"He does take care of me," I tell him. "And I can take care of myself. I can take care of him, too."

"What are you going to do if he loses his shit?"

"I can handle him. I'm not scared of him."

"No," he says.

I don't bother arguing. I put on my sunglasses, fold my arms across my chest, and look the other way.

"Teagan, you're not going to cry again, are you?" Declan taunts.

"No…"

But the truth is I want to—that was the only thing I was looking forward to. I feel that tightening in my chest, and I'm not so sure I won't.

"What are you thinking about?" he asks. "Huh? Tell me what's going on in there."

"I don't think I should."

"Why's that?"

"River says I shouldn't piss you off anymore."

He laughs. "So, you think you can't talk to me without pissing me off?"

I shrug. "It's the safest bet."

"Well, that pisses me off," he says.

Shit. "Um—"

"I'm kidding, Teagan," he says. He laces his fingers through my own and, with his other hand, traces the 'D' on my chest. "I know you miss me. I miss you, too. I miss the way you smell; I miss the way you taste. I miss seeing you look up at me with those big blue eyes and your pretty lips parted. I miss your voice and the way you fit in this space under my chin…" He pauses, pointing to his collarbone. "Right here."

"Declan, please don't."

"Why not?" he asks. He removes his sunglasses and then pushes mine onto my head. As much as I want to look away, I know I can't. His intense gaze holds me in place, and I know my eyes are what he wants. "Really…tell me why you won't let me be good to you. I know you, Teagan."

And in case I forgot exactly what he means, he runs his finger along the tulip tattooed on my forearm.

"And I know you love me, even if you won't say it. I won't leave you alone."

I swallow hard. "How many girls are buried in the woods?"

"More than one," he says. "Less than five. But it won't happen to you, Teagan."

"Here you go, angel," Luca says.

Grateful for the interruption, I quickly turn toward him and take the drink from his hand.

"Thank you," I say.

I down half of the mostly rum concoction before I set the glass on the table. It doesn't ease the tension or make the weight of what Declan just said any less heavy.

"So, what time do we have to leave?" Luca asks Declan.

"We're signing beforehand, so around four, probably," Declan replies.

He isn't wrong, though. I knew as soon as he said it—and if I'm more honest with myself, I've known for a while. If he wants to know why I don't like it when he's sweet to me, that's why. It's because I love him, and I don't want to.

But it's too late for that now, isn't it?

And since that's the case, I pull my knees into my body and then turn and rest my head on Declan's collarbone, settling into that space right under his chin where I fit so well. Strong arms wrap around me and hold me against him.

"Are you okay, Teag?" Luca asks.

"Yeah," Declan answers. "She's okay."

He kisses the top of my head, and I close my eyes. I breathe deeply and try to steady my heart rate so that it matches his own.

Strong, calm. Unbothered.

But I can't. I'll never be like him.

I stay like that for quite a while—an hour maybe—until his phone rings, and he walks away to take the call. He doesn't ever come back; he leaves without saying a word.

It hurts my fucking feelings.

"We should go soon, too," Luca says. "I'm hungry. Let's go to lunch."

I look around the pool deck, which has filled up in the past hour. A bigger crowd with new bodies, and they're all, at least intermittently, looking at us.

"Okay. But let's just order something. I'm tired of other people."

"I don't even notice them," he says, shrugging. "I only see you."

"I love you," I tell him. "You're my best friend."

"I love you, too, Teag." He kisses me on the lips. "Let's go."

I take his hand and follow him back inside the hotel.

We all ride together to the venue in a limo. It's been a while since I've been in a limo—since Declan and Luca took me to that…whatever it was…in the mountains in Oregon.

And then they both fucked me on the way back.

"Time for your blindfold, Teagan," Luca whispers in my ear.

I shake my head. "Stop."

Apparently, I'm not the only one thinking about it.

Eli is the last one to climb in, sitting beside Brady and across from River and Hazel. Declan is across from me. He has his sunglasses on again, and he's quiet. I don't think he's looking at me, though. I don't think he has the entire time.

"E!" Hazel says when he gets in the car. "I've missed you. I miss our talks."

"Me, too, Haze," he says. He pulls a flask from his pocket and takes a pull, but he looks like he's already well passed drunk. "You're my favorite person in this fucking car, you know that?"

"I do know that," she tells him.

"Is that little girl of yours wearing panties under that?"

"That's unlikely. Let me check," Hazel says. She pushes Riv's dress up past her hips and spreads her legs apart. "Nope. No panties."

"That's terrible," he says.

"It's a lot easier to get finger banged during a concert if you're not wearing panties, E," River says.

"That's facts," Hazel tells him.

I laugh with them and Luca takes a swig from a bottle of vodka, then brings it to my lips. "Open up," he says. "It's tradition."

He fills my mouth with vodka, and I swallow, then he runs his hand up my thigh and kisses me on the mouth. I taste vodka on his own tongue as it rolls over mine.

"Is Teagan wearing anything under that skirt?"

Declan.

Luca bites down on my lip hard enough to draw blood, and I let out a small, high-pitched squeak. He sucks the lip into his mouth before he answers.

"Yeah," Luca says. "I watched her put them on. She's wearing a black thong."

"Take it off, Teagan."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Better do it, Teag," Luca says. "Besides, River's right. It'll be a lot easier to get finger banged at the show if you do."

I reach up my skirt, hook my thumbs under the lace, and pull them down my thighs and over my combat boots.

Declan holds out his hand, waiting, and I set them in his palm. He puts them in his front pocket and goes back to staring out the window.

Okay.

"Hey, come sit on my lap, Hazel," Eli says.

I watch as she crosses to the other side of the car and climbs into his lap. He pushes her pink hair over her shoulder and then leans in, whispering something in her ear.

I watch the look in her eyes shift; I think I know what he told her.

She turns her body toward the door and leans against his chest. He's still talking to her, whispering to her. I see her nodding or shaking her head. River watches them, confused, but the rest of them continue their own conversations, either unaware or uninterested.

When she gets out of the car, she's quiet and her mascara is runny.

There's already a line around the block waiting for them to start signing autographs when we get there. And there's something else, too.

My jaw hits the fucking floor when we step inside the building, past the front of the line, and I spot three girls together, each with 'D' and 'L' carved into the front of their chest.

"What the fuck was that?! Did you see that?"

Luca and Declan both just laugh.

"It's not funny to me!"

"Aw, come on Teagan," Luca says. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

"It's not fucking flattering, it's—you like it, don't you?"

"I'm not answering that," he says.

"I'm just warning you, Teagan," Brady says. "I saw at least two more in line and a couple with it drawn on in red sharpie or something, too."

"Are you fucking with me?"

He shakes his head. "No."

"I saw them, too," River says.

"There were pictures of you two at the pool earlier on Instagram," Rhett says. "Some people must have thought it was a good way to get attention. It is kind of cool."

"I didn't do it to get attention! I didn't do it to myself at all!" I fold my arms across my chest and plop down on a sofa beside Brady. "I didn't even want the 'D,'" I grumble.

Declan looks at me and raises an eyebrow. "Careful, Teagan."

I regretted it the minute it came out of my mouth, but not because of him.

"Don't lie, Teagan," Luca says. "You know you always want the 'D.'"

Because of that. I knew it was coming. I do my best not to laugh with them all but fail.

"I still don't think it's funny," I tell them. "I'm just another fan now, I guess."

"Aww, just ignore it, Teagan," River says. "Don't let it ruin your night."

"You are so fucking dramatic," Declan laughs. "We need to go, guys—we're late. Actually, come here for a second, Teagan; I have a surprise for you. It might make you feel better."

"It's the 'D,' isn't it?" Luca asks.

"Is it?" I ask. "I'm not going."

"Don't be a brat, Teagan. Come here."

With a heavy sigh, I stand and drag myself over to the doorframe where he stands.

"The eyeroll was really uncalled for," he says, grabbing me by my chin. "I might have to bend you over my knee for that one."

I squeeze my legs together, flushed with heat at the thought. I make a calculated decision and smile before I stick out my tongue at him.

One corner of his mouth turns up. "Okay. I see how it is," he says. "Close your eyes."

I close them, feeling his lips hovering just in front of mine, his breath against them. When I can't wait anymore, I lean into him, searching for his mouth, but he moves back again.

"That's what brats get." He leans in, his cheek brushing against mine before I feel his mouth against my ear. "Keep your eyes closed and hold out your hands," he says softly. "And for the record, it isn't the 'D,' but I'm going to give that to you later after I leave my handprint on your little ass. I'm going to fuck your brains out until you're a sticky, shaking mess—until you're ready to be my sweet, soft kitten again."

"I missed you," I tell him quietly.

I love you.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Yes. "I missed you all day yesterday."

He presses something cold and hard into my hands. "Open your eyes."

A folded knife sits in my hands, the handle embossed with white pearl tulips. I flip it open and find my name etched into the metal blade in intricate script.

"Do you like it?" he asks.

I nod, smiling. "I love it. It's heavy."

I turn it in my hands, the dim backstage light reflects off the flawless titanium blade as I examine the details in the craftsmanship. And then I can't help myself—I press my finger to the tip, ever so slightly, and that's all it takes. Blood runs from the tiny pinprick down my finger.

"Careful," Declan says. He wraps his hand around my wrist and leans in, licking the trail of blood from my palm to its source before taking the finger into his mouth and sucking it clean. "That one is sharp enough right now to cut through flesh like butter, even if that person is squirming like you were. We'll play with it later; I'll show you."

"Declan, what the fuck is taking you so long?" Rhett asks.

"Be right there," he shouts back. "Do you feel better, Teagan? You're still special, baby."

"Yeah," I tell him. "Yeah, I feel better."

"Good."

He finally leans in and kisses me, tasting me, teasing me with his tongue. One hand rests on the side of my neck and the other…

The other runs along the inside of my thigh until it's inside my skirt, stopping just below where I'm desperate to feel his touch, brushing just slightly against my pussy.

"I'm going to be thinking about how wet your thighs are from your soaked cunt the entire time I'm on stage," he says. "I'll see you later."

He kisses me again lightly before walking past me, following Rhett down the hall.

I watch him until he disappears around the corner. Then, I fold the still-open blade back into its handle and stuff it into my bra.

Maybe it's okay to love someone who doesn't love you back if they're good to you. It won't kill me like it killed her. I'm different, and I don't need it.

"Hey, Teagan!" Brady calls. "Get your sad, groupie ass over here. We're going to play a game."

He gave me what I really needed anyway.

A family.