Love with Every Beat

by K. L. Shandwick

  My jaw was tight, and I was clenching my fists. My whole body locked tight waiting to hear Lily’s answer. Drew closed the door and banged his head against it and for a moment I thought Lily had said no, but he turned and was smiling. “You’re a lucky son of a…” Striding over he hugged me hard lifting me off of the ground. “Get your jacket on it’s time. Let’s go get our hot chicks, dude.”

  Music began to filter out from within the wedding suite. ‘Love You Forever’ by Ryan Huston. Softly and silently the doors to the suite began to open.

  Drew and I picked the song for the girls to come into the ceremony, and when the doors opened I was stunned, Elle came down the aisle first looking sensational in her dress, and mouthing the song, which made me smile. All of the bridesmaids filed over to the edge, and when I looked back up the aisle, there she was. My Lily. And she was perfect.

  It was a strapless dress. The bodice was heart shaped with soft pleating that narrowed at the waist and drew my eyes down the length of the dress. There were silk and lace sleeves that came from the bodice that were finished like the petals of a flower at the wrists.

  My heart was in my mouth and I thought it would burst any second with the love I was feeling for her. Everything we’d been through was worth every ounce of heartache to be standing right there watching the beautiful vision before me. Perfect.

  Our eyes connected as soon as she started to walk down toward me and everyone else seemed to fade away. I was mesmerized her beauty, and how incredibly lovely she was.

  Smiling widely when I saw her eyes meet and hold my gaze, as she walked to stand next to me. Her body was slightly shaking and I watched her work a swallow as those gorgeous innocent eyes stared up at me full of love.

  Both Charlie and Jack put hand in mine and I heard the registrar ask, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man.” Charlie and Jack said in unison said, “We do,” before smiling and stepping back.

  My fingers closed around her tiny hand and I squeezed in an ‘I got you,’ gesture. She was smiling but looked so innocent and nervous, “Hey,” he I said softly. As soon as I said it Lily seemed to relax.

  The wedding dinner and reception went really well except for the part when Elle had invited Will and his new girlfriend, Amy. If I’d have known he was coming I’d have put my foot down. I hated the guy for the way he’d moved on Lily. I know, I’m a hypocrite on that, but look at us. I was right to be relentless. Lily was a girl who brings out the crazy in me.

  Layla sat smiling at me and when our eyes connected we shared a silent moment. I knew she was thinking our parents should have been here. She was right, they died young and we were robbed. No point in pretending otherwise.

  As soon as the speeches were finished I told Lily I was going to speak with her. Standing slowly as I approached her, Layla’s smile beamed. “Alfie what a fabulous ceremony it was perfect. Everyone did a fabulous job.

  I wish…” Layla began to cry, and I hugged her hard, working a swallow and fighting an emotional meltdown. Luckily my aunt Connie interjected, and distracted Layla out of her funk.

  After that I danced with her and Des began to move in Cody asked Layla to dance and spent the rest of his time looking after her. When I caught up to thank him, Cody informed me he wasn’t doing it for me, he was doing it for himself.

  What could I say, “Fuck my sister and you’re dead?” They both deserved to be happy. Cody was a good guy, and my sister…well I loved her.

  There was no point in booking a honeymoon until after Lily’s physical therapy was finished. I knew how important playing music was to her and keeping to the recovery program.

  When Lily and I danced our first dance we danced to ‘Insatiable,’ the song I was writing the day we met. I sang the words into her ear and it was absolutely perfect. Elle and Lily did the bouquet throwing and Rosie caught one of them. Jack cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck and everyone laughed, but I felt bad for poor Rosie.

  All of a sudden Lily and Elle were on chairs and there were about fifty guys around them. They were flashing garters, and I thought no fucking way were any of those dudes touching my wife’s legs, and I realized that was my task. So I did what any good rock star would do and removed it with my teeth.

  Things became a bit blurry about who was who, because of all the people involved and after a while I just wanted my wife to myself. Staring at her talking, she suddenly turned in my direction and smiled. Next thing I was making excuses about Lily being tired, and we were out of there.

  Arriving at the door to the suite, I bent down and scooped Lily up into my arms. “Okay, Mrs. Black. Are you ready for the long haul with me?” I said, looking lovingly into her eyes. She smirked and I thought what an amazing woman I had as my wife, and buried my face in her neck.

  Swiping the card, I opened the door. Pale pink rose petals were scattered everywhere. Red roses and white gypsum filled the room, and everything was exactly how I had planned.

  Setting Lily on her feet, I cupped her face in my hands, bending over to talk to her.

  “Lily Black, I am so lucky to be right here with you. Thank you for picking me. You know you’ve always been my favorite.” I smiled playfully.

  Dipping my head, I kissed her softly, while my hand swept from the side of her face to the back of her head and pressing it gently toward me, deepening the kiss. Lily moaned and my dick jumped in my pants. When we broke the kiss we were both breathless.

  “Can you undo my dress for me Alfie?”

  Grinned, I smiled wickedly and growled, “With pleasure, I’ve been waiting to peel this away since you walked into the room today.”

  Slowly unzipping her dress, it slipped away and fell to the floor. The sight of Lily in the white lacy underwear made my eyes bulge. “Fuck. God, I shouldn’t swear, but you’re just…perfect.” Swallowing audibly, Lily while she smiled back at me.

  “Come here. Sit,” I commanded. Sitting her on the chair, delving into my soft leather travel bag, I pulled out my tablet. Scrolling through the screen, I tapped one of my tunes with my finger and set it on the table.

  ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ by Joe Cocker began to play. Rummaged in my bag again, I pulled out a baseball cap, pulling it on backwards. When I turned and saw the look of disbelief on her face I smiled widely.

  “Now then, where were we?” I said as my hips began gyrating in an exaggerated manner, then making smaller circles with them, and moving them from side to side. I had to make good on my promise to give her the surprise striptease.

  Sliding my jacket down over my shoulders, I pulled the material tight. Turning, I wiggled and twerked my ass at her, grinning over my shoulder. It was so funny watching the delight on Lily’s face as I injected humor in what had been a really emotional day for the both of us.

  When she laughed out loud I had to control my urge to pin her to the floor. I allowed the jacket slip to my hands before pulling it away and swinging it above my head.

  “I hope you don’t mind but I skipped on the satin thong today.” I winked. I had thought about wearing one just to see her face but it would have killed me having that string irritate my ass all day long.

  Continuing to dance suggestively I started peeling the layers of clothing away, taking off my tie and looping it over her head, sliding it gently back and forth on her neck before discarding it to the pile I was fast accumulating on the floor.

  Lily was turned on by what I was doing, her huge eyes all hooded and seductive. She kept licking her lips and biting her bottom one, and when I began to unbutton my pants her eyes were fixated on my zipper waiting to see what appeared there. As soon as our eyes met they were locked in. Connected.

  All of a sudden, neither of us smiled any more. “We’ve done it, Lily. Nothing else matters, except that we’re together. I’m gonna love you my whole life, Lily Black, and you’re never going to doubt what you want again.” Closing my mouth on hers I gave her a slow tender kiss.

  Looking at Lily sound asleep on the bed, I
could watch her for hours knowing this time I never had to leave her. If we spent the night apart it would be by choice not because we were being pulled in different directions in this fame- crazed, fucked- up whirlwind that we often found ourselves in making music in a popular band.

  Lily has always been clear in that, she never wanted to be famous. All she ever wanted was to make music. I didn’t know if I ever said this out loud before, but what she said struck a chord with me as well. For us, music was our passion, fame was an occupational hazard, but love was something that connected us beyond anything people can see or hear.

  Lily and I been on quite a journey so far, and who knows maybe one day we might share another chapter of our lives together with you in the future, but there is one more thing I want to tell you about what everything means for us.

  Lily’s script on her leg, ‘music is the sound of feelings,’ I’d like to finish that with an end quote of my own. Music is the sound of feelings, and feelings are the thoughts of love. Music fame and love is an incredibly powerful combination. The emotional impact of the words in a song can take people to the depths of despair in their darkest hour, bring joy during a celebration, or bring comfort during a difficult time.

  Rarely do people have the opportunity to connect with all three to the extent that Lily and I have. Occasionally things happen which we can never explain, but for Lily and me our chance meeting and subsequent journeys with our music, fame and love changed us for the better.

  A combination that brought Lily to me, took me from Lily and brought me back to her. During my journey, the combination took me from being, Alfie Black, the boy who loved music. My music took me forward to be Alfie Black, the rock star musician and bring me fame, but it was love made me Alfie Black the man.

  So I guess you’re wondering about the wedding night. It was the most fabulous, fun filled, tender and loving night of my life. I’m not going to talk about the details or the wild sex we had or how many times Lily came. Or what fun things I had in my bag.

  You know why? Well It’s because I’m Alfie Black, famous rock god superstar, and my fans are insatiable so they always leave wanting more.

  Thank you, London and Miami and good night.

  THE END.

  Dedication

  This book is for the loyal readers who wanted to understand what Alfie’s point of view was during the Everything Trilogy. Sometimes it’s easy to judge people without having the full story.

  I appreciate this, and obviously my readership does as well. This was probably one of the hardest projects I have undertaken to date. Alfie’s story came from three books each being one hundred thousand words.

  All text had to be condensed, then the book expanded to include Alfie’s story for the times when he wasn’t with Lily, and yet I had to keep the authenticity and continuity of the story. Some people may think, there are parts of the original story missing.

  There are, I can’t put three books into one, make a new story and include everything. However, I hope I have put a story together, which people still enjoy but from a different angle.

  I want the reader to be able to pick up this book up without reading the trilogy and feel they have been entertained and gained at least some insight about Alfie Black’s journey alongside Lily Parnell’s.

  I’m dedicating this book to Emma Moorhouse an avid reader who supports independent authors and promotes the work of the authors she reads, likes and reviews. This lady has been a constant source of support after finding me on social media sites and reading my work. Thank you Emma.

  No Rock Star worth his salt would be without his avid ‘groupies’ and Alfie is no different Alfie’s team of special ladies: again readers of the trilogy who supported the story, and did the daily tasks an indie author does to promote The Everything Trilogy and Love With Every Beat, while I wrote this book. So thank you Sarah Tree, Isa Jones, Jacqueline Dennison, Carolyn Waddell, Debra Hiltz, Mia Lynn, Ashley Heather, Jessica Johnson Welch, Angela Wallace Kuwauchi. I am truly grateful to you all.