Altered Chords

by Kristen Echo

  Two officers exploded onto the scene with their guns drawn. “Put it down, son. Nobody needs to get hurt.”

  Klein laughed, sending a shiver down Ty’s spine. He looked over and saw them. “Ye can’t touch me. I can do anything!” He moved his arm, pointing the gun at one of the officers.

  One shot blasted into the darkness. Followed by two more.

  Bodies tumbled. Tyson couldn’t tell who’d been hit. Nathan went down, so did Klein. Bria clung to him like a second skin. Her nails dug into his back as she buried her face in his shoulder. He stood there immobile, processing the aftermath.

  It happened too fast. He was unable to stop it. His heart leapt into his throat as acid churned in his belly. He eyed his friend and held his breath. Nate rolled over and Tyson let out the breath he’d been holding.

  The officers rushed over and kicked the gun out of Klein’s hands. They kept their weapons on him as one reached down to check for a pulse. Klein’s arms were limp and lifeless. His eyes were open, and from where Tyson stood, it looked like he was gone.

  “Are you hit?” Brody ran over and crouched next to Nate.

  “No. I dropped to avoid getting shot. I’m perfectly fine. Survival 101,” he joked.

  Tyson hugged Bria and inhaled her sugary sweetness. “It’s over. You can open your eyes. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  She didn’t move a muscle. “Is he dead?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head and ran his hand down her spine.

  “The things he said… he’d really lost it. I’m not sorry he’s gone. The judge never would have ruled to kick him out of the country. I would have had a shadow on me forever. If I survived tonight,” she whimpered.

  A splash of hot tears trickled against his arm. “Shhh. Don’t go there, thinking about what might have been. You are safe, and I promise nothing bad will happen.”

  “Don’t leave me.”

  He knew she meant for that moment and nothing more. “I wasn’t planning on it.” He’d stay as long as she wanted him.

  “I need to use your phone and call my parents.” She sat up and wiped her tears. “This will be a long night.”

  “I’ll be by your side through it all.” He tilted her chin towards him and captured her mouth. There was no place he needed to be, and she was the only person he wanted to be with. The kiss lasted longer than the previous ones, and if he had his way, it would last forever.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Bria ♥

  T he entire weekend was nuts from the get-go, but somehow it turned out better than she ever expected. She was free. Bria hugged her pillow and smiled. An intense erotic dream lingered on the edge of her consciousness. A badass with tattoos and a chip on his shoulder had captured her in his arms and done wicked things to her. His eyes were as black as midnight as he’d pushed inside her, filling her so completely there was no room for air. She clenched her thighs together and sighed. It was a delicious dream she wished would come true.

  Bria rolled over to find Tyson sprawled across the bed on his back. His arm covered his face, blocking out the daylight. The blanket only covered his lower half, giving her an opportunity to admire him. She stared and committed every design to memory. The art suited the passionate man before her.

  Their evening hadn’t ended until the wee hours of the morning. It had been filled with plenty of paperwork and lots of discussions. He’d been true to his word and stayed with her. Unfortunately, the evening did not include sex or any intimacy other than cuddling. After convincing her parents she was fine, she’d coaxed Tyson into sharing a bed with her. She’d tried to get things moving, but he’d treated her like she was made of glass and would break at any moment. That would not happen.

  Her weekend adventure had taken all kinds of twists. The incident with Klein, being the most dramatic. She felt detached from it all as if it happened to someone else. Bria should have been sad about the death of her ex, but she felt relieved. Months of stress and worry floated off her shoulders. Any love she’d had for him had evaporated the moment she’d failed to withdraw money from her bank account. Love couldn’t withstand that kind of betrayal.

  Her version of love was all consuming. Love should involve two people who wanted the same things. Her eyes drifted down at Tyson and she chewed her lip.

  Did they want the same things?

  She leaned on her arm as her fingers traced the patterns on his chest. He stirred, and her hand moved lower, following the light spattering of hair towards the edge of the blanket. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”

  “I’m up.”

  Bria pulled back the blankets, and he was up. His cock grazed his navel, and she took him in her hand. He moaned as she squeezed. Those sounds awakened her already lively libido. He moved his arm and looked at her. Those dark eyes and furrowed brows were even more sexy in the daylight. She reached over and smoothed them out.

  His expression was too serious for first thing in the morning even if it was the afternoon. She inhaled, taking in his manly essence. She leaned closer and kissed him. Tasting his full lips, pressing her tongue inside. He didn’t pull away, but it lacked the intensity she’d grown accustomed to.

  “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to have sex?” She let go of his cock and sat up.

  “I’m always up for sex. But are you ready for that? After what happened last night, it’s okay if you need time.” He rubbed her arm and his touch sent a shiver through her.

  “I dreamed that you were inside me.” She crawled over him, blanketing his body with her nakedness. “Taking me hard and fast.”

  He flipped her over onto her back. His erection settled between her open thighs. “I don’t want to fuck you hard and fast.” He rocked his hips, letting her feel his rock-hard desire.

  She raised her hips to take him. “Why not?” She groaned when he didn’t give her what she sought.

  “I’d like to make love to you. Slow. Savoring every touch.” He smiled and used the tip of his fingers around her areola. Her nipple puckered in response and her core tightened.

  “Yes, please,” she begged for more.

  “Treasuring every kiss,” he said, leaning over, and sucking her nipple into his mouth.

  “Oh…” Her sex was drenched, aching to be filled. “Tyson, I want you so bad.”

  He teased her opening with his tip but wouldn’t go all the way. “Cherishing the connection.” He licked around her breasts and in between them. “Making love takes time. I want to take my time with you.” He sucked her other nipple into his heat.

  She swooned and repeatedly smashed her head against the pillow. Her feelings for him had exploded past liking him. The fall had the potential to hurt more than she could handle. It thrilled her as much as it scared her. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. “When you make love, do you mean it or are these only words? My heart needs to know if this is fancy talk or something real.”

  He laughed at her question and the sultry way he looked at her sent another shiver over her. “I could love you. If you’ll let me?”

  Yes. Yes. Yes… a thousand times, yes. Her heart beat faster as her mouth tried to catch up with her brain. “I’m falling hard here, so if you’re only talking about this weekend. Don’t say things like that.” She pushed his shoulder. The solid wall of muscles didn’t move.

  “I have nowhere to be except with you. Hopefully inside you too. If you want me, I’m yours.” Tyson’s words struck her straight in the heart, burrowing in, and planting a seed of hope.

  “For real? You’d like to move out here and stay? That’s the only way this could work.”

  He laughed and kissed her quivering lips. “Firecracker, do you want me to stay?”

  More than she wanted anything else. “Yes. I want you to stay. I want you to make love to me. And I might be greedy enough to want that for a very long time. Does that work for you?” She took his face between her hands and stared into the darkness of his eyes.

  “Yeah.” He pushed inside, stretchin
g her, and making room for all of him. “That works.”

  They fused their lips together and their bodies took over from there. Making love had never been more raw, more exhilarating, or more tender. When her orgasm shattered the last of her resistance, she cried out his name. Tyson erupted a moment later, emptying himself inside her.

  A bliss coma followed. She didn’t need to dream anymore. All her dreams had come true. Her fantasy man was cuddled next to her, and they were no longer chasing a clock. The weekend could last forever. The next time she opened her eyes they made love again. They took their time, and the second orgasm was even more intense. So much so that she passed out. Waking up and making love to him would have happened again if her stomach hadn’t protested when he rubbed between her legs.

  “Hungry for more than cock, finally?”

  Bria laughed and swatted his hand away. “I guess so. Should we order room service?”

  He kissed her swollen lips and jumped out of bed. His naked body made her mouth water. “Let’s go out with the guys. I’ll have to let them know they lost their driver. Are you sure you want me to come to Calgary? If that was heat-of-the-moment pillow talk, it’s cool.”

  “Move in with me? That’s not your typical naughty seduction phrase. In fact, for most people, it would have the opposite reaction.”

  He looked down at his semi-hard cock and smiled. “Firecracker, everything you say makes me hard. Are you sure you want an unemployed guy living on your couch for a while? I’d need to crash with you until I can find work and get my own place.”

  Bria crawled to the edge of the bed and sat with her feet dangling. “I’m happy to hear we have similar effects on each other because everything you do makes me wet.”

  “I’m going to burn your panty drawer, so you can’t wear any ever again.”

  She laughed and pulled him into her arms. “I want you to live with me. I’ve been at my parent’s house for the past few months, but I have an apartment near campus. You’ll find work as quickly as you want around here, that won’t be a problem. School starts shortly, but we’ll have a few days to get settled. I have one condition.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “What?”

  “You have to sleep in my bed with me every night. Unless we pass out on the couch together, of course.”

  “Of course.” His strong arms wrapped around her, hugging her back. “I will not be living off you though. Once I get my shit together, I’ll pay rent and—”

  “We’ll figure it out as we go. You might get bored with me within a few weeks.”

  Tyson took her chin in his hand and stared into her eyes. “Never going to happen. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met. I think it will take a lifetime for me to get bored. Maybe two.”

  Her breath hitched, and her eyes pooled with tears of joy. “We’re both insane, right? How could two strangers meet and fall in love in a weekend? Because I am… falling for you.”

  “It’s a long weekend,” he teased. “I don’t know any other way to fall than fast and hard. We might both get burned by this, but I’m willing to take the risk if you are.”

  Her stomach growled again, and they both laughed. “Let’s eat.”

  They got dressed and Tyson called his buddies, planning to meet the band at a pub within walking distance. Bria was glad it wasn’t far because her legs ached, not that she told Tyson. His ego didn’t need inflating. They walked hand in hand down the street, past the spot where they had their first kiss. Her toes curled thinking about it.

  “Tyson!” A woman yelled from across the street.

  The grip on her hand tightened. She looked over and watched a full figured, pregnant woman waddle across the main street. Her dark hair was pinned back, and her arms had nearly as many tattoos as Tyson. She was glowing.

  “What are you doing here, Karen?”

  The name seemed familiar, but Bria couldn’t place it. Karen marched towards them, closing the gap, and she did not look happy. Her eyes were on their joined hands as she tugged at the shirt, barely covering her round belly.

  “How could you?” Karen reached out and slapped Tyson across the face. “You’ve been gone all summer when I needed you.”

  “Who is this?” Bria asked, tugging Tyson’s arm so they could get far away from the drama.

  “I’m his wife! Who the hell are you?”

  Bria’s eyes bugged out at the mention of a wife. Her heart rate picked up as she put two and two together. If that was his wife, then that was his baby. Tyson was about to become a dad. Her stomach dropped, and she was glad they hadn’t eaten yet. She tried to take her hand back, but he held on, refusing to let go.

  “Ex-wife,” he corrected. “And that’s not my child. It’s my brother’s. Maybe.” His eyes pleaded with her to believe him, and she did. He’d never given her a reason not to.

  “Your brother and your wife?” She squeezed his hand. “I’m Bria. Tyson’s girlfriend.” She liked the way that sounded.

  Karen looked right past her and focused on Tyson. “Don’t be saying shit like that. You know it’s his. I made one mistake. We both regret it.”

  “You regret getting caught and losing your free shit. I worked my ass off to support you both, and that’s how you repaid me.” He clenched his teeth and Bria rubbed his back. He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m not letting you two sucker me into supporting your kid. You two made your bed and you can lie in it together.”

  “My parents took me on this trip to get my head on straight before the baby comes. I’ve had a lot of time to think. You know, I didn’t think I’d see you until you got home at the end of summer. This is better. I’m glad we ran into each other because it’s fate. Ty, I want you back. This baby is your family, and we need you.” Karen reached out to touch him, but he pulled back.

  “Some family,” he scoffed. Then he turned his face towards Bria and smiled. “Send pictures. I’d love to see what my niece or nephew looks like, but I won’t be around to babysit. I have my own life to live. Take care of yourself, Karen.”

  He walked away with an open-mouthed woman staring daggers into his back. Bria followed along and quickly fell into step with him. That had been unexpected, but it helped provide some insight into the complex man she planned to live with.

  “I walked in on them together. My wife, my baby brother, and his pregnant girlfriend. We didn’t know she was pregnant then, but a few weeks later they both announced the joyful news.”

  “How can you be sure it’s not yours?”

  “I’d been away for nearly six weeks with a project up north. They gave us an early leave, and I surprised them all.” He stopped walking and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not proud of my actions, but I saw red and kicked the shit out of him that night. I nearly killed him. The cops showed up, and I spent a couple of months in jail.”

  “He pressed charges? What an asshole.” Bria didn’t have any siblings, and she was suddenly happy about that fact.

  “It took two officers to pull me off him. One got hit in the process and I got charged for assault. If it had just been my bro, I’d have been out the next day. He never pressed charges. The damage was done. They started fucking around soon after I hit the road. It could have been worse. I might never have found out and could be raising that kid as my own. I think the Judge took pity on me given the circumstances. Anyway, I filed for divorce, and Karen didn’t object since my brother said he’d marry her. He deserves better than some cheater though.”

  Their fingers remained threaded as she listened. His story was heartbreaking. The strength inside him to overcome something like that and still be able to love left her gobsmacked.

  “I think he did that as his way of making amends. We’re blood but we’ll never be tight again. Sorry for the long story. They didn’t get hitched. He took off with his other girlfriend and left Karen with no one. I feel responsible in some way, but they aren’t my problem. Not anymore.”

  She cupped his jaw and ran her fingers down the side
of his face. “Is that how you got this scar? From fighting with your brother.” In the distance, she saw the band approach. She knew their intimate moment would end, and the laughing and good times would begin again.

  He pulled her against him. “Yeah. His girlfriend smashed a bottle against my head to stop me from choking him out. It worked. It’s fucking ugly.”

  “No, it’s part of you and I think you’re far from ugly. Thank you for sharing your story. We’re quite the pair with our pasts.”

  He kissed her, and all the passion they had traveled between them, enough to move mountains. “They say the past shapes the future. If that’s true, then our future should be filled with love, kick-ass music, and fireworks.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Tyson ♫

  H er laughter filled the car as they parked in the underground garage. “Home sweet home,” she said, turning to face him. The green in her eyes sparkled with excitement, and he wished he shared her enthusiasm. “Are you going to miss touring with the band?”

  “No. I don’t mind staying in one place.” Tyson would miss his friends, but not the road or the piece-of-shit van. “They’ll be out this way again. Might be a while. They have some big changes to make if they want to cut a deal.”

  The band had talent and a unique sound, but Grant and Brody were butting heads about the direction they should take. Tyson and Bria had interrupted a heated argument to share their good news. The guys had taken it well. Better than he’d expected. Nate had been surprised he’d lasted until the end of the tour which made everyone laugh, including Bria. They all joked about how he fell in love at the drop of a hat. She wasn’t scared by the way he loved too easily because she was the same way. Her passion for life and everything around her was so fucking attractive he could eat her whole. She was way too good for him, and he was waiting for her to realize it.

  “Next time they come around, they can stay at our place. Who do you think will be the next one to fall in love or do you think they’ll be bachelors forever?”