Lyrical (Academy of Stardom, #2)

by Bea Paige

“You need Xeno and Dax too,”

“I need all of you. I always have. This was never just about me,”

“Hey, are you wearing eyeliner?” I whisper, biting on my lip. Fuck, that’s sexy. “Nail polish too. I’m funnelling my inner metrosexual self. Like it?”

should’ve trusted what’s left of my goddamn fucking heart, but instead I listened to you, Xeno. Not anymore. You three need to sort your goddamn shit out, and you, motherfucker,”

And just like when we were kids, Dax swoops in, protecting me once again.

I’m acutely aware of how Dax’s fingers are digging into my bare flesh as he clutches me against his chest. It’s like he’s afraid of dropping me, even though that isn’t possible, given his strength and size.

look up at Dax, his expression is full. It’s full of everything. He’s not hiding behind a hoodie and a cap now like he used to do so often when we were kids.

and for a moment the only hunger I feel is for him, my Dax, my Dark Angel.

I notice her hands are shaking. I see the heartache in her eyes, and it angers me. Jeb’s a prick. He hasn’t taken care of her. No one’s taken care of her. My fist screws up into a ball, and it takes all my control not to fucking hit something.

“I got it not long after that night. I wanted a reminder of what I

loved, and what I fucking lost. Back then, I wanted to look in the mirror and be reminded of the pain you caused so I wouldn’t be weak and seek you out. I got this tattoo as a warning to never, ever let you into my heart again.”

Her gaze locks with mine and in that moment, I see her. I really see her.

My Kid. My beautiful fucking girl.

“I missed you so, so much, Dax,”

We came back into her life and pushed her, treated her like shit, like she meant nothing when all the while she meant every damn thing. No, she means

everything.

York cursing my name. I don’t move. He can come find us. Nothing has the power to drag me away from Kid right now, nothing.

My beautiful, damaged Dax. My Dark Angel.

This is Lyrical dancing.

And, fuck, is he stunning. So fucking beautiful.

With glistening eyes, Dax offers me the hand of friendship just like he did when I met him that first time in the basement of Jackson Street, just like that boy—a complete stranger—who let me rest my head on his shoulder, who gave me comfort.

A single tear slides down his cheek, but I don’t see weakness. I see strength. I see the man I’ve loved most of my life letting go of all the shit. He’s showing me the power of forgiveness. He forgives me for hurting him, for leaving him. That one single tear eviscerates his past hurts and bad decisions, just like it eviscerates mine. It's time to heal. I don’t hesitate, I run, leaping into his arms.

We come together with love…

Heart-wrenching, soul-squeezing, gut-punching, pussy-trembling love.

This is your only warning, Kid. I’m taking a leap of faith, not for loving you like this, but for trusting that you won’t break me again. I won’t survive it. Do. You. Understand. Me?”

“Will you be honest with us? Will you tell us what the fuck happened?”

“I can’t do this on my own anymore,” I admit. “Then you won’t. Whatever this is, I’ll be there. I’ll protect you,”

“Don’t you dare stop! Don’t you dare stop loving me!” I cry, my fingers curling into his shoulders and the heels of my feet pressing into his rock hard arse as I force him tighter against me. “Never. I never stopped. I loved you even when I hated you. Oh, Kid. Fuck! I need to be inside you!”

You smell like home.”

“You lying here beside me like this… Spread open for me like this. Fuck, I feel like a king. I feel like the richest man in the world. You, my Kid, our Pen, our lucky penny.”

My men. My Breakers.