Bitter Notes (Second Sets, #1)

by Aly Beck

Even when we were little, I thought Kieran was my knight in shining armor—the hero who saved me over and over again from danger.

Sometimes I miss the boy who told me everything would be okay. I wonder if I ever crossed his mind. Probably not. Now he lives the good life with his new stepdad in a mansion overlooking the lake. What I wouldn't give to have a conversation with him, or you know, a good romp in the backseat of my car. That would suffice, too.

Yeah, barbie dolls, I’m the devil for telling you to put your boobs away. Get over it. Call me the boob police or whatever; keep your damn titties in your shirt, and we'll be peachy. Have to keep this a clean operation, after all.

But this talk isn't the dirty talk I have in mind. I want him to slap my ass, call me a whore, and maybe a good girl. Not a fucking Central Girl. Jeez, this guy, too?

"Everything will be okay, Blue," he murmurs, putting an arm over my shoulder after setting his used guitar on the grass. "I'll always be your knight."

“Fuck, River Blue,” he grunts, squeezing harder. “Where have you been?” he whispers again, shaking his head. "I can't believe… It didn't even cross my mind that it was you. The girl from my past." “Where I've always been,” I moan when he kneads my entire tit in his hand like dough. “You were the one who left without a word.” Hurt leaks into my voice, and he stops, pressing his forehead into my shoulder. "You didn't even say goodbye." "Let me make it up to you, then," he murmurs against my neck. "Let me show you how much I've missed you."

“Good girl. That’s what I thought,” he murmurs. “You’re going to take my cock, River Blue. And you’re going to cum all over it again and again."

"We are far from fucking done," he hisses, snapping his gaze to me. "None of this is over," he gestures between us. "I'll be seeing you, River Blue West."

One day, I'll show my girl how to use those fists against everyone who decides to put their hands on her.

No one deserves her except maybe me. That River is mine. She's always had my name stamped on her ass as Kieran's property. I may have lost her for the past eleven years, but now I'm here to reclaim what's mine. And what's mine is her.

“We’ll wine and dine her. We’ll make River West fall so madly in love with us that she’ll call her family and beg them to hear our music. Imagine the reunion they could have all because of us. It’ll be a win-win, but mostly for us.”

What better package deal could you get than having her invested in all of us? Our hearts, our everything. We’ll all date her, and then, in the end, she can decide who she likes the best.”

But if we can get to the venue of our dreams, then we're set. No more parents with expectations. Just music, the road, booze, fame, and River by my fucking side at last. And freedom, the one thing we've craved. No matter the cost, we’ll get there.

I peek at the man sitting beside me with tears on his cheeks, I immediately recognize him. Ashton Radcliffe. My classmate and Kieran’s—my knight— new best friend.

Yeah. It’s ball-nicking time, Assface. Feel my fucking fury.

Fun fact, Van never got over the girl they forced him to leave. But you don’t belong to Van Drake anymore. The truth is you never did. He was a pathetic excuse of a placeholder. Naw, my sweet River Blue, you belong to me. Always have. Always fucking will,”

“You’ll always be my River Blue,” he says with a smirk. “And I’ll make good on that.”

“Believe me, they’ll screw you over faster than you can count to three, Rivey,” he pleads, clenching his teeth. I nod my head, looking at them through the tall window. They stare over this way. Asher’s mouth flaps a few times, and the others stare, waiting in the car, inspecting everything we do with a keen eye. “Yeah? Just like you, Van?” I hum, leaning my elbow on the counter. “Yeah, Riv,” he sighs, running a hand down his face. “Just like that, trust me on this.”

“Damnit, Rivey, you’re too stubborn,” he mutters, cursing under his breath. “I’m serious. Whatever they’re hanging around for, they’re going to use you. That’s all they do is use people for what they want.”

So, the boys think they’re getting into my daddy’s record company through me? That’s laughable at best. But let’s see them try. I won’t let my feelings get in the way. All I’m here for is a good time.

I will do anything to have River by my side, even if it means kidnapping her to wherever we end up. I’ve only just found her, and I won’t lose her.

Our buddy may be a blushing virgin, but I always know when he’s interested in a chick. A look always passes over his eyes, and an interest forms. He’ll watch from the shadows, inspecting his crush from afar, but never seems to make the moves. I know his reasoning and why he’s held onto his V-card for so long, but I think he’ll give it up someday soon. Especially with the way he blushes and stumbles around River.

We may not always like each other. But we’re fucking brothers. As long as we have this. The chords. The melodies. And the words, we have it all—even River in the future.

Looking back, he smiles again, and his blush deepens further. Only this time, he looks me in the eye and gives me a shaky wave, like it took everything inside him to make that connection. With a wink and a wave, I successfully make him blush so hard he resembles a tomato.

I swear he’s possessed by a demon or something. “The power of Christ compels you,” I murmur under my breath, flinging fake holy water in his direction.

His body physically relaxes, and a slight grin tugs at his lips. In River’s presence, he seems to unwind from his usually tense behavior. River appears to be the balm that is slowly unraveling our dear Callum.

Some way, somehow, we’re going to utilize her in some capacity. Even if Kieran has to propose to River, drag her to California with us, and throw her at West Record’s front door.

But there's something about River West that softens my resolve and makes me want to throw caution to the wind and unwind. And that's what terrifies me.

After seeing the knife against my junk, I'm sure he locked himself in his room for hours, pleasuring himself to the image. He moaned “Oh, River,” more times than I can count.

“Are you staying?” she asks Rad, but her voice only gives away the aching exhaustion she must be feeling. “Oh my, Pretty Girl,” he purrs softly with excitement. The chair makes a squeaking sound, and his footsteps come toward us leisurely. I'm sure not to scare her off. “Only if you’ll have me,” he says in all seriousness. “Only if you want me to watch or touch you or whatever you want.”

Rad would never take a woman against her will or push her limits. He respects everyone. Especially after the girl he helped save years ago, he's been traumatized ever since knowing what she went through and so brutally.

There’s no way this woman is ever going anywhere else again. I’ll chain her to me and drag her to California. Fuck Ash and his plans. Fuck everything else. This pussy? Mine. This ass? Mine. Fuck, she’s mine, and I don’t even fucking care.

because it glazes over his eyes, and his jaw sets. Our plan is solid. We've lured her in. Almost too well. And we've become the suckers.

She's always on my damn mind like an obsession I can't escape. Soon I'll be waiting outside her apartment with binoculars, making sure no one fucks with her, watching her undress from afar, and jacking my shit in the trees.

River West will either be our ruination or our fucking salvation—I haven’t decided which yet.

"Now, before we go, be a good girl and tell Callum thank you," Kieran demands in a low voice, sending me a knowing look.

"I swear my dick just throbbed and shriveled at the same time. Confusing ass woman. But fuck, I think I’m in love,"

“Now, where do you live? I’ll do my gentlemanly duties for the night and escort you home. I can’t have my future girlfriend dying at the hands of that guy,” Asher growls,

Besides, if she is going to date us or be our girlfriend, she needs a better phone to communicate with us. And… hmm. Yes. That will be perfect. I grin to myself and nod. Ah, yeah, that’s it. A giddy butterfly erupts in my gut at the thought of throwing a new phone at her with a little something extra.

Society can suck my dick for all I care. And I know, I know. People love to remind me I don’t have a dick, but I’m not talking about the flesh flute hanging between my legs. I’m talking my soul dick. The dick that lives deep inside of me, not literally. So, suck my aura dick, society, and leave the name-calling out of your mouth.

God, as fucked as it sounds, I can’t wait for the day when Asher punishes me for every minor infraction. He could bend me over his knee, spank my ass raw, and then fuck me in it. Yup. I’m fucked.

Something soft and sweet about Callum pulls me into his orbit. He’s like the stars shining above us, dazzling me with his presence, giving me no other option because I can’t seem to say no to him right now. Not when he graces me with that slight grin and hope in his eyes.

“It was almost two years ago,” he whispers, shivering like the memories are coming back in full picture. “I was in a plane crash. My parents and my little sister Jenny… they-they died-died beside me.”

“There was nothing I could do. I severely broke my leg from the impact. My little sister crawled on top of me, told me she loved me, and then passed away in my arms.

“Since the accident, only one thing has kept me sane. Until today, though, I’ve discovered there are now two things that chase away the monsters haunting my mind and grant me peace.” “Yeah?” I whisper as he leans in close, bumping his nose against mine. “Yeah,” he confirms, brushing his lips against mine and holding my body close. “You,” he whispers with a shaky breath, breaking me with his confession. “And music.”

“Rad has always had a soft spot for you, you know? When he found you like that, it fucking broke him. He went to the cops and told them he found you to corroborate your story, but they…” “Laughed him off like they did me?” I ask with a shaky breath, shaking my head. “I’ll always remember how he took care of me.” “Will you ever let him know it’s you?”

“Pretty Girl, it’s not nice to punch people out of bed. You interrupted an amazing dream. You and me and the rest of the guys naked on the beach with sand in places we shouldn’t speak of. But you were about to give me a sandy pussy sandwich, and then you pushed me out of bed,”

“You all ask the same questions. How’d you get into my room? Why’re my panties in your pockets? They’re not, by the way. No panties in here,” he says, lying through his teeth when he pats his bulging pocket.

“But you two were the best snuggle buddies. We should get rings made. Snuggle Buddies activate!” he howls, thrusting his fist into the air.

You didn’t even tell me goodbye or invite me to the slumber party, which is rude, by the way,” Rad whines, fake pouting. “Next time, it’ll be at our house!” he says, wiggling his brows again. I strum his lip and scoff. “Too early,” I mumble again, going over his words.