I’ve tried to contact him to smooth things out between us. He’s my brother after all, and truthfully, I miss having him around. Naomi and I are still engaged, but we don’t want to tie the knot until Marcus and I are speaking again. Something about getting married without my brother present just doesn’t sit right with me. So, we’ll wait. Hopefully, he’ll eventually come around and return a call.
Matiari is still going strong. The Sydney show with me as the front man was a huge success. We finished the world tour with Radio Silence then spent six months living and gigging around the UK while Naomi worked with Dan Stolle on the next Radio Silence masterpiece. We’re going on tour again in a few months, but that’s another Radio Silence support show. We’re not a worldwide sensation like Marcus is, but in Australia and the UK we’re going strong. So, I’m not managing us on my own anymore, our label is doing all of that stuff for us now. I didn’t think I’d like giving up control, but really, it’s a load off my mind. Now, I can concentrate more on the music instead of worrying about booking venues and getting paid promptly.
Swallowing the last mouthful of her coffee, Naomi takes the paper from my hands and flips it over. After everything that happened in Melbourne, she still hasn’t quite forgiven him for the way he treated her. But she understands my need to sort things out and says she’ll be willing to forgive and forget as well.
Admittedly, after what he did, I spent a good six months wishing I could find him and rip his head off. But as time went on, I started to calm down. It also helps that my parents like to remind me how important family is. They won’t get in the middle of what is going on between me and Marcus, but they won’t put up with it either. Christmas is coming soon, and they’re expecting to see all of us. Although by the looks of today’s paper, Marcus will be busy overseas.
Naomi stands and takes her empty coffee cup over to the dishwasher. “All right, I’m going to get ready. Since they’re filming shots of tonight’s performance for the music video, I’m going to have to take some time to get my gorgeous on.” She smiles, batting her eyelids at me coyly.
As she walks past me towards the door, I grab her by the waist and bring her down on my lap, kissing her fervently. “You’re always gorgeous, babe,” I whisper.
“You’re not so bad yourself, goth boy.” She laughs, getting up from my lap and heading out of the room. Just as she gets through the doorway, she leans back in. “Are you coming?” she asks, swinging a shiny pair of silver handcuffs from her index finger. “Maybe you can show me how that tongue ring works again?”
She doesn’t need to ask me twice.
* * *
Naomi
Tonight’s performance is at The Metro in Sydney. It’s the first place I saw Matiari play, and the last time they ever played without me. So, tonight’s kind of special for me. I feel like we’ve come full circle, even if we are missing a member.
The guy we have playing drums is excellent. His name is Rob, and unlike a lot of drummers, he’s reliable and spends as much time as is needed to get the sound just right. He kind of reminds me of Theo a little.
Theo is a brilliant front man. I’d go so far as to say that he is even better than Marcus was, only because Theo has a lot more invested in our music. He’s the one that writes most of the songs, so the emotion of his music is more raw than it was before.
Tonight, we’re debuting a song that I wrote. So far, we’ve only played it in the studio while we were recording the album. This is the first song where I will be on lead vocals, so I’m nervous as hell as we stand up on stage and work through the songs that are leading up to mine.
OK. Nervous doesn’t cut it. I’m freaking out. I’m petrified that I’m going to forget the words, that I’m going to forget how to play and sing at the same time and… I’m just losing my shit.
When Theo introduces me, he walks across the stage and takes me by the hand, walking me to the centre of the stage to stand by him. Noticing my worry, he leans in close and whispers in my ear.
“I love you.”
I smile. “I love you too.” Those three words have more power to calm me than any other sort of encouragement out there.
I step forward to the microphone and take a deep breath as Theo stands by me, his fingers flicking back and forth over the strings. With my violin at my side, I lean into the microphone to begin…
I once swore to believe
In love’s conspiracy
My every affection
Was never reflected
Maybe I deserve to feel so lowly
But now you echo my heart beat.
Baby I felt you sweep in slowly
And now you resonate with me
Like a Beautiful Melody
I heard my own heart strings
Be pulled by dark and light
Triangle confusion
A ying/yang infusion
Maybe I deserve to feel so lowly
But now I echo your heart beat.
Baby I felt you sweep in slowly
And now you resonate with me
Like a Beautiful Melody
Theo strums out the music, looking at me proudly as I raise my violin and play a solo. He’s almost dancing around me as we play together, our music melding the same way our voices will when we sing the final chorus. It’s taken a lot of practice, but with his vocal assistance, I can sing the last part while I continue to play the violin.
Maybe I deserve to feel so lowly
But now you echo my heart beat.
Baby I felt you sweep in slowly
And now you resonate with me
Like a Beautiful Melody
When we finish, the crowd screams and whistles and my heart soars, knowing that I’m right where I need to be. On stage, singing with the love of my life. If heaven really is on earth, then I’m one of the lucky ones who’s managed to find it.
Epilogue
Marcus
“We’re chatting with the man of the moment, Marcus Bailey, on the eve of his world tour. Welcome Marcus, thanks for coming on the show,” the young blonde video DJ says from across me. I have no idea what her name is or who she works for. I’ve just been sitting in this chair for hours, answering the same fucking questions over and over again. I wish they would just film me and insert themselves in editing. Get it done in twenty minutes. Easy.
Despite feeling sick of sitting here, I put on my game face and smile broadly at the young lady. She’s pretty fucking hot actually, long slim, tan legs, poking out of a tube of orange fabric that’s been squeezed over her very curvaceous body to be a dress. She’s wearing those spike heeled ankle boots that all the girls seem to be wearing today. She’s my last interview so I might see if she’s up for it when the cameras are off.
“Any time,” I say to her, smiling.
“Now tell us about this crazy whirlwind you’ve been on since you left Matiari?”
“Yeah, it’s been a real trip. I kind of thought my music career would be over after that. But you never know what people are going to love do you?”
“Well, it was a very public way to break up with your band wasn’t it?”
“It was,” I agree, still smiling.
“For those watching who don’t know the story, you can go to our website where you’ll find a link for the YouTube video of Marcus’s very emotional rendition of ‘Weighted’. He chose the song specifically to send a public message to Naomi Prendergast, the band’s violinist after she chose to become romantically involved with Marcus’s brother, Theo Bailey, who is now Matiari’s front man.
“Now, that video, catapulted Marcus into the international spotlight, earning him appearances on countless TV shows as well as his own recording contract. So it’s well worth a look.” She turns back from looking at the camera and focuses again on me.
“Marcus, I’ve been listening to your new album On the Other Side, and I have to wonder if the song titled ‘He’ll Never Be Me’ is a direct response to the official announcement of Theo and Naomi’s engag
ement?”
“Ah, maybe.” I laugh. “Am I that obvious?”
“A little.” She laughs in return, flicking her hair slightly as her eyes drift down the length of me. My smile broadens, I know I’ve got her.
“The truth is, I had my heart broken that day, and the best way for me to deal with that pain is through my music,” I tell her, a sombre expression placed upon my face. Like I said, I’ve done this before. It’s all just an act now.
“I completely understand,” she sympathises, nodding her head as she makes eye contact with me.
“Listen. This is actually hard for me to talk about, do you mind if we move onto something else?”
“Of course. Tell me all about your tour. How many shows and how long will you be travelling?” she asks, her eyes filled with sympathy for my broken heart.
***
“Oh god! Don’t stop! Don’t stop!” she yells as I pound into her, slamming myself inside her, harder and harder as her body thumps up against the dressing room mirror.
I used to think it was easy getting girls into bed before but add the word ‘heartbroken’ to ‘musician’ and you’ve struck gold. Panties fall to the ground as they all line up to be that one that turns my head and teaches me to love again.
But no matter what they do, or how kinky they get, I’m not going to be that dumb again. Falling in love was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. Fucked if I’m ever falling for that shit again. There’s a huge line of girls around the globe, begging to share my bed. I’ll never be lonely again.
I’m a rock star now. I don’t need love.
Keep reading for an extra burst of beautiful with Commitment, Katrina and David’s wedding. It runs alongside Melody in the timeline, and gives you the chance to revisit our original couple.
The Side Story
Commitment - Katrina & David’s wedding
One
Katrina
“Are you ready?” David asks me from the doorway of the bathroom.
I’m standing in front of the mirror brushing my shoulder-length blonde hair and putting my concealer and makeup on. It’s been years now since my ex-boyfriend, Christopher, put me through a glass sliding door. But the scars are still there, running down the side of my face as well as a large one on my shoulder and light ones on my arms. I accept they’re there and they remind me more of David saving me than they remind me of Christopher, but people always stare at the one of my face, so I keep my hair cut with a side swept fringe and wear makeup to hide it.
“Just give me five minutes and I’ll be done,” I tell him, looking at him via the mirror.
He moves into the cramped bathroom behind me and slips his hands around my waist.
“You know you don’t need make up. You’re gorgeous without it.”
“Yeah?” I grin. We’ve been through this before, but it’s always nice to hear it.
“Yeah, so gorgeous that we might need to take an extra five minutes. Or maybe thirty. Even the rest of the day would suit me,” he murmurs, moving my hair to the side and nibbling gently, just behind my ear.
Immediately, my breathing grows heavy and I moan softly as curling waves of desire ripple through my body in response to his touch. He presses his body firmly against mine, and I can feel his arousal against my buttocks. We’ve been together for three years and engaged for two of those and he still drives me wild. I wonder if I’ll ever grow tired of his touch and sincerely hope not.
I drop the tube of concealer and it slides down the curve of the basin as I reach my arm up and curl my fingers into the thickness of his hair.
“I’d love to spend all day with you,” I confess, turning in his arms. I move to face him and bringing our lips together, brushing mine against his. I’m teasing him. Although, to be fair, he’s teasing me too. He knows we don’t have time for this.
David
Tightening my arms around her waist, I close the distance between our lips, and work my mouth against hers. For a moment she hesitates, we both know we don’t have time for this – not if we’re going to make it on time. But honestly, I don’t even want to go. I’d rather spend my day in bed with my fiancée.
I slide my hand up her back, my fingertips feeling for her zip. But she pulls back, her fingers still threaded in my hair, and looks at me.
“We’re going to be late,” she breathes. Her eyes have that lazy lustful look they get when she’s aroused and her lips are perfectly pink. I lean in and nip at her bottom lip then grin at her.
“They’re not going to care if we’re a little late,” I assure her.
She pulls at her bottom lip with her teeth. She’s driving me crazy right now. I want her. I always want her. I can’t imagine being this insane over anyone else.
Katrina
God I want him. My body screams for him and I’ll be in agony all day if I deny the release that’s coming. It won’t take long. We’ll still make it in time.
“As long as we’re quick,” I tell him, immediately reaching down to unbutton his pants. His cock bounces out eagerly and I run my hand over his firm length.
“Lucky you’re wearing a dress then,” he grins, with that dimpled half grin he has that always sends skitters of delight over my body. He slides his hands up my thighs and pulls down my panties. I’m only too happy to kick them aside as he lifts me up onto the vanity and drops to his knees.
I part my thighs eagerly, I know what’s coming. He always makes sure I am ready for him. He still worries he could hurt me.
As his masterful tongue slides its way between my folds, I drop my head back against the mirror and moan contentedly. The pleasure builds inside me and I slide the fingers of one hand into his hair as the other grasps at the tap which is dripping slowly. It’s the only other noise in the bathroom besides our own heavy breathing.
“Get inside me,” I gasp, knowing that I’m ready. I want to feel him in my core.
Wiping his mouth as he stands, he circles his tip at my entrance and then pushes in. As he groans, I gasp. Even after all this time, it takes a while to adjust to his size, but it’s amazing every single time.
He slides in slowly, watching between us as he disappears inside me. Once he’s made it all the way, he pauses, giving me time to adjust as he looks into my eyes. “I love you like this. You’re always so beautiful when you’re about to come,” he declares, placing his hand on the mirror behind me, he leans in closer and kisses me, his mouth tasting of toothpaste and me.
Moving his hips back, he glides easily through my juices and lets out a satisfied hum as he starts to move.
“Oh,” I moan as his rhythm builds. It’s like the gods made him specifically to push against my g-spot. Reflexively, I grip myself around him, deepening his brush against my nerves endings and sending ripples of pleasure coursing through my body.
My whimpers and moans mingle with his, and bounce off the tiled walls. Oh god, I’m so close.
David
I’m going to lose it, and I know she’s not there yet. She has a pussy like a vice, and the sound of her moans almost pushes me over the edge. I focus all of my energy on holding off and keeping the rhythm. I want her to come first. I need her to come first.
Moments later, she starts to call out. This is the only time she’s ever religious as she shouts to the heavens and says ‘yes’. My own pressure explodes out of me with her calls, pulsing deep inside her as she clenches herself around me, milking me of every drop as I slide myself in and out of her slick wetness.
I lean back a touch and slide my hands either side of her face, taking my time as I kiss her softly. Sliding my tongue around the sweet dampness of her mouth - I’m lost. I don’t want to leave.
For a while we just stay connected, kissing, embracing - enjoying the feel of being together. Although, eventually the sound of Katrina’s phone ringing brings us out of our reverie.
“That’ll be mum,” she whispers, dropping her forehead against mine as she breaks the kiss.
Sighing, I reach over to the
towel rack and grab a hand towel before sliding out of her and placing it between her legs.
“I’ll answer it,” I tell her, planting a kiss upon her forehead as I tuck myself away and do up my trousers, and make my way into the lounge room to answer the ringing phone.
“Hi Carol,” I say as I bring the handset to my ear.
“David! Are you two on your way? We’re just about to leave with Tom and Jenny. Jim wants to make sure we’re all synchronised to arrive together.”
“We’re leaving in about five,” I tell her.
“What have you been doing? You should be on the road by now?” she demands, soundly slightly miffed.
I’m not going to tell her what we’ve really been doing – that would be weird. So I go with the easiest excuse I can think of. “Sorry, we just lost track of time. We won’t be long.”
Trina is still in the bathroom when I end the call, so I go back to her and lean against the doorway, watching as she leans close to the mirror and applies her mascara with her mouth in a slight O. A grin twitches the side of my mouth. I’ll never understand girls and makeup.
“Is she pissed at us?” she asks in between eyes.
“A little, but they don’t have to wait for us. They can go in on their own if they want.”
“No, she won’t let them. You know how she is – we have to arrive as a family.” She swipes some rose-coloured gloss across her lips, and fluffs out her hair while she checks herself in the mirror.
“I hope you’re not trying to impress anybody,” I blurt out, feeling instantly annoyed with myself the moment the words leave my mouth.
Beautiful Boxset: Beautiful Series, books 1-4 Page 112