Wonderwall

by Soars, M. H.

  I’m scanning the tables when I feel Oliver’s hand on my upper arm. “Please tell me that’s the chick I’m looking for.”

  I follow Oliver’s gaze and sure enough, there’s Saylor wearing some kind of white, black, and neon green eighties costume on the stage. My eyes immediately wander to her right and find Liv, donned in a similar outfit, but in different colors. Her hair is curly and has a purple hue to it. There’s weird make-up on her face creating geometric shapes. The micro skirt she’s wearing stirs all my senses awake and I’m hit with two distinct impulses—take her to a private place so I can remove that tiny piece of cloth with my teeth, or cover her up so none of the baboons in the room can ogle her.

  There are two other girls on the stage, they must be Liv’s roommates. The four of them take their spots and wait while the crowd cheers and whistles. Liv and Saylor trade looks before Liv smiles. I can’t stay that far away from her, so I make my way toward the stage, carving a path heedless if I’m shoving people out of my way or not. I hear Oliver apologize here and there, but the sound is muffled.

  Suddenly, a familiar tune blasts through the speakers.

  “Bloody hell! They’re singing Spice Girls here? That’s ballsy!” Oliver says behind me and I laugh.

  I manage to get to the front row and I stare unabashedly at my gorgeous girlfriend as she struts, turns, and sings like a pro. My jaw is loose, and I may be drooling. The room is hot and the wig and the costume don’t help, but I’m burning up for entirely different reasons.

  ☂ ☂ ☂

  Olivia

  People say that once you’re on a stage, it’s easy to forget that you’re performing in front of strangers because with all the lights on you, you can’t see the audience. Nonetheless, I can feel his stare, bearing onto me. I try to ignore it, but something inside makes me want to search for the owner of that intense gaze. After a minute into our routine, I find him. There’s a guy wearing the most ridiculous Kiss outfit in front of the stage, looking at me in a way that makes me uneasy and warm at the same time. Quickly, I convince myself that it must be the tequila talking.

  I focus on finishing our performance of Wannabe without making a fool of myself, but I’m completely aware of the stranger following all of my movements. The song ends and people actually clap and cheer for us. My heart is going a thousand miles per hour and the feeling of excitement is overpowering and amazing. I get why Saylor and Sebastian love singing so much.

  We return our mics to the sound assistant, and exit the stage. Lloyd and Mellie are right there when we take the stairs down. They’re bouncing and screaming, saying how awesome we were. Emma says something about drinking and we begin moving back to our table. The dance floor is so full, we have to walk in single file and I’m bringing up the rear. I get a sense of unease as the tiny hairs on the back of my neck rise. Someone grabs me by the waist and I find myself flush against Kiss man. I’m about to yell when my eyes connect with his, and I want to scream for completely different reasons. Sebastian is looking at me with an eat-shit grin plastered on his face.

  “That was some show you put on there. I never knew you could sing, birthday girl.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  He picks up a strand of my purple hair, before he breaks the distance between us and kisses me, right there in the middle of the dance floor. His lips taste strange with the make-up on, but it’s easy to ignore that when his expert tongue is exploring my mouth. My arms circle his back as I try to meld with him. I can feel how happy he is to see me through our clothes. Desire erupts in my belly and I’m hit with a need so grand, it verges on desperation.

  Another song starts and someone bumps into us. We break apart, and our breathing is ragged, out of control. Sebastian rests his forehead against mine.

  “God, I’ve missed you so much,” he says.

  “I’ve missed you more.”

  He kisses me again, a sweet peck on the lips that it’s almost too brief to count.

  “I can’t believe you came. What if someone recognizes you?”

  “Liv, if you couldn’t recognize me right away, no one will.”

  “How did you—”

  “I noticed how uncomfortable you got when you were up there and caught me staring. You thought I was a creep, didn’t you?”

  “That’s not fair. I could hardly see with all those lights on my face.”

  Sebastian chuckles and the sound is so light, so warm, that I want to put it in jar and preserve it forever. He lets go of my waist and laces his fingers with mine. “Come on. Your friends must be wondering where you are.”

  “Did you come by yourself?” I ask.

  “No, Ollie is here somewhere.”

  We get close to our table just in time to see Saylor standing up with her hands on her hips, screaming at another guy wearing a Kiss outfit. It must be Oliver. I don’t catch the end of her spill, but I’m there to witness the grand finale. Saylor picks up a glass of something and throws its content on Oliver’s face.

  “Bloody hell!” he shouts and stands up as well. “You crazy—”

  “I wouldn’t finish that sentence, mate,” Sebastian says jokingly, but I detect a warning tone too.

  Emma’s gaze connects with mine and her eyebrows shoot to the heavens. “Liv, why do you have shit smeared all over your face?”

  I touch the area around my lips, and sure enough, my fingers have gray goo on them. I turn to Sebastian and he’s missing part of his make-up. Freaking great. Now I look like a clown.

  Lloyd glances from me to Sebastian, making the connection almost immediately. His mouth makes a perfect O, and then he smiles and gives me two thumps up.

  “What are you doing?!” Sebastian shouts and I follow his gaze.

  Oliver has removed his wig and he’s now wiping his face with a napkin. I can see the moment my friends recognize him.

  “Holy shit! It’s Oliver Best!” Emma shouts, making me cringe. In panic, I look around us, hoping her outburst has gone unnoticed.

  No such luck, it only takes one person next to our table to recognize Oliver, and the news that a Boys Future member is in the house spreads like wildfire through the club. It won’t take long for fans to approach our table.

  “You moron! Look at what you’ve done!” Sebastian yells at his friend.

  “It wasn’t my fault. If this crazy mermaid had any sense of humor…” Oliver points at Saylor.

  “Oh, so it’s now my fault you’re a dickhead who can’t take no for an answer?” Saylor spits back.

  We’re still standing glued to the spot when two girls get in between us and Oliver to ask for pictures. Sebastian grabs my arm and pulls me back with him. “Liv, we gotta go. I’m sorry.”

  I peer at him and I can see regret reflected in his eyes. Sebastian hasn’t been recognized yet, but it won’t take long now. I turn to my friends, but they’re too preoccupied with getting pictures with Oliver as well. Except Saylor. Her gaze connects with mine and she mouths, “Go”.

  I let Sebastian drag me from the main room, only stopping by the coat check counter to get our jackets. Outside, the air is bitter cold, and I wrap my arms around my midsection, trying to get warmer. Sebastian pulls me to his side and kisses my temple as he flags a cab that is driving by. Once we’re inside, he gives the driver his home address. I look out the window and feel a pang of regret and sadness to be leaving my own birthday party so abruptly. Is this what my life with Sebastian will be like? Will we ever be able to have a private moment without having to worry about fans and paparazzi?

  Sebastian must have sensed my turmoil, for he touches my chin with his index finger and turns my face to his. “I’m so fucking sorry we had to leave.”

  I sigh and look at my lap. “I know.”

  I’m not mad at him. I can’t fault Sebastian for what happened. I’m frustrated and disappointed with this whole situation.
<
br />   “Liv?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve got a present for you.”

  Something in his tone makes me laugh. “If you say your present is in between your legs I’m gonna kick you in the nuts.”

  He puts a protective hand over his crotch. “Don’t even joke about that. After six weeks of no action at all, I need Junior here to be intact.”

  “Junior?” I laugh harder and can’t seem to stop. I have the giggles.

  “Come on, Liv. Don’t laugh. I’m trying to be romantic here.”

  I wipe the rogue tears that have escaped the corners of my eyes and curl my legs under me, turning my body to Sebastian’s. “Okay, okay. No more laughing.”

  Sebastian retrieves a square box from the inside pocket of his jacket and I stop breathing for a split second. But then I take in the size of the box—it’s way too big to house an engagement ring inside. The pressure on my chest eases. We’ve barely started dating again, plus, I hardly think a proposal inside a cab is romantic.

  He gives the box to me and I loosen the pretty pink bow with eager fingers. When I open it, there is a white gold bracelet inside and next to it, a key.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a promise bracelet.” He takes the jewelry from the box and puts it on my wrist. Once it’s fastened, he uses the key to lock it.

  “It can only be unlocked with this key.” He places the key on my open palm, and then closes my fingers over it. I look at him, finally catching onto the significance of this moment.

  “I know it’s too soon to ask you to marry me.” Sebastian continues. “But I want you to know that I’m not going anywhere, I’ll never abandon you again, no matter what. This bracelet symbolizes that promise. I hope you never have to use its key, because if you do, it will mean that I failed.” His voice catches at the end and I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I can’t speak, I can’t think, my heart is pounding away, and there’s a buzz in my ears. Air breaks free from my lungs in one powerful gale.

  I drop the key inside my purse, and then I hold his face between my shaking hands. “I know you won’t fail.” Those are the only words I manage to say before I kiss him with my whole heart and soul, accepting his vow, believing in his promise with absolute faith.

  Chapter 43

  Sebastian

  I spent the last ten minutes staring at Liv’s sleeping form. Her hair still has some curls and it’s kind of wild. I smile, knowing I’m responsible for the tangled mess. My dick has been standing on attention even before I opened my eyes, and it’s a Herculean effort to just look at her and not touch.

  Her eyelids flutter before they open lazily and I’m rewarded with one of Liv’s sweetest smiles.

  “Morning,” she says so softly, it’s almost a purr.

  She’s my little sexy kitten and the fact that I can now be near her, hold her tight whenever I want, makes my heart expand until it feels like it’s going to burst of happiness.

  “Did you sleep well?” I ask.

  “Marvelously.” She stretches her arms at the same time as her legs tangle with mine. Our chests touch and that’s my undoing.

  My hand seeks her body like I have no control over my movements. I trace the curve of her hip with my fingertips, leaving a trail of goose bumps on her skin.

  “Bas, what are you doing?” Her voice already sounds breathless and my lips twitch upward.

  “Nothing,” I say and let the smile unfurl completely.

  When we got to my apartment last night, we couldn’t get out of our clothes fast enough. The six weeks apart were torture, and in moments of insanity during the tour, I began to doubt that I had gotten Liv back into my life for real. So every kiss, every caress was a way to reassure myself that the woman next to me was not an illusion. That meant we spent the entire night between the sheets. But my desire hasn’t diminished, on the contrary, I want her even more now, with her glorious morning hair, and her warm and smooth skin. My hunger for Liv is insatiable.

  My fingers continue their path toward her center, and I find it’s already burning up and ready for me. Her legs part, granting me better access, as she leans her body even closer to mine. I put more pressure against her and she kisses the hollow of my neck, making me break out in goose bumps this time. When I plunge a finger inside her, she sucks in a breath. Her long nails scratch my bare chest, not hard to hurt or break skin, but enough to turn my need into an almost unbearable thing.

  Her hand moves down until her apt fingers curl around me, making me grunt. We don’t speak, the only sound in the room is of our ragged breathing and the occasional moans of pleasure that escape our lips. Liv tilts her head backward and our heated gazes collide. We keep them locked, and it’s a challenge now, a race to see who will finish first. I insert another finger in her, increasing the pressure both inside and outside of her. I don’t want to win, I want to make Liv fall apart first because the way I envision finishing this race is buried deep inside of her.

  It doesn’t take long for her to come. In the short amount of time we’ve been together again, I’ve become an expert of everything Liv. I know every contour of her body, every sweet spot that makes her go crazy. She screams my name as her hold on me slackens. Once the tremors pass, I roll over her. I kiss her long and hard as I thrust inside her with one precise push. I swallow her moans, eating them up like they’re candy. But I must go deeper, there’s a primal need in me to brand her, mark her as mine. I grab her leg behind the knee and pull it in between our chests, holding it firmly against my shoulder.

  “Oh, my God, Bas, I can’t…” Her whisper trails off as her head fall backward, her eyes shut.

  I pound against her, trying to keep the wave of pleasure in check, unwilling for this moment to end. But eventually it does, and I say her name over and over again, until I’m all empty. I hold Liv against the mattress with my weight and hide my face on the crook of her neck. I can’t hear anything besides the sound our hearts drumming away in synch.

  I pull out of her and tuck her to my side, unwilling to let go. I’m a greedy man when it comes to Liv, I’m a Liv monster. She rests her cheek on my chest and sighs. “It’s official. I’ll never be able to leave this bed. My legs are mush.”

  I smile and kiss the top of her head. “Fine by me. Are you hungry?”

  “Famished.”

  “Good, I’ll order some breakfast from the café next door.”

  Liv leans back, resting on her elbow to look at my face. “They deliver?”

  “To me? Yeah.”

  ☂ ☂ ☂

  Thirty minutes later we’re both showered and Liv is presently making coffee, wearing one of my t-shirts. There’s nothing sexier than seeing the girl of my dreams in my clothes. Liv wasn’t planning on staying the night, so her only option was to borrow something from me, or wear last night’s outfit. The fact she doesn’t have any personal belongings in my apartment is a problem we need to remedy soon.

  “You’re coming with me tonight to my Uncle’s Christmas dinner party,” I say.

  Liv turns to me, carrying a steaming mug of coffee in her hand. Her deer caught in headlights expression is adorable.

  “Bas,” she begins but I don’t let her finish that sentence.

  “Liv, I haven’t spent Christmas with my family since I moved out two years ago. And even so, when I was present, it felt very much like I wasn’t even there. I hated every single moment of it and made no attempt to hide it. This year is the first time I’m actually excited to celebrate Christmas and the reason is you.”

  Liv opens her mouth to speak again, but my door bell rings.

  “Breakfast is here,” I say.

  I take the flight of stairs down faster than Superman, and open the door to the street without bothering to look through the peephole. I’m only wearing my old sweatpants and didn’t bother with a t-shirt. I like to catch Liv check
ing me out when she doesn’t think I’m aware.

  I find Jimmy, the café owner’s son, at my door carrying two bags of heavenly goodies. But right behind him, there is a group of paparazzi, waiting for the opportunity to snap shots of me. They haven’t bothered me in ages at my house and I’m taken aback by their presence.

  Jimmy gives me an apologetic look as he takes my money. I don’t know why he’s feeling guilty, it’s not his fault that today of all days, those pests decided to bother me. The paparazzi only wait a couple of seconds before they start to ask questions as they take their godforsaken pictures.

  “Bas, who’s the friend staying with you?”

  “Coleman, what does Gretchen think of you kissing another woman?”

  “How long have you been cheating on Gretchen?”

  The blood drains from my face and Jimmy takes off quickly. I shut the door and go back to my apartment in a daze, feeling like I’ve just swallowed dozens of lead balls. As soon as I’m through the threshold, I go to the windows and shut all the curtains. Liv notices something is amiss.

  “Bas, what happened?”

  “The paparazzi are outside.”

  “Why?”

  I glance at her, feeling like the grandest bastard that has ever lived. “They know about us.”

  Liv’s eyes widen and she drops her mug of coffee to the floor. It breaks into pieces and dark liquid splatters everywhere, mainly on her naked legs. She doesn’t seem to notice. Her panicked eyes are fixated on me.

  “How?”

  I put the food on the kitchen table and go to her. I grab her shoulders to make sure she doesn’t pull away from me.

  “I’m not sure, but it will be okay, I promise you.”

  Liv nods and I pull her to me, hugging her tight. I’ll do anything to protect her. I won’t let the media destroy the love of my life, even if I have to damn my soul beyond salvation.

  She pulls away first and looks at the mess on the floor. “Shit. Let me clean this up.”