CHAPTER 16: When Worlds Collide
We take another private elevator to the top floor of another structure: Drew's penthouse. This abode has a more modern style as well as the same glass walls as the restaurant. The city of Laire still takes my breath away, even from the penthouse living room.
Also in the living room is a black grand piano. It's next to the glass walls so it doesn't take me long to get to the bench, where Drew is sitting.
"You know how to play the piano?" I sit beside Drew when he makes room for me.
"Aye, love. It's one of my favorite things to do when I stay indoors." Drew's fingers run through a few keys. "Just making sure it's tuned correctly."
"What are you going to play?"
"Something personal. I figured if I want you to open up to me, it's only fair that I open up to you first."
Drew takes a breath to steady himself.
"This song is dedicated to someone I loved. Don't pout. It's for a family member. My…my brother."
I'm not pouting. At least, I don't think so. Damn him.
But Drew is telling me the truth. I know because he suddenly looks sad. "I didn't know you had a brother."
"No one does."
"Why?"
"It's complicated."
"Is your brother a vampire too?"
"No. He isn't…around anymore."
"Oh my god, Drew. I'm so sorry!"
Drew stares at the black and white pieces before raising his hands over them. Soon, chord progressions on a six-eight-time signature resonate through the living room. It loops endlessly, waiting for Drew's vocals to come in. But Drew isn't ready. Not yet. His expression is blank and trying hard to stay that way.
I catch Drew's arm, so he looks at me. He does so without pausing the melody, and our eyes meet. Blue to green.
Three more measures pass. After another breath, Drew sings.
Darling, are you cold in this dark empty world
Trapped and alone in that lonely corner?
Don't worry, I'm here now to take you away
To somewhere you can call your home, be loved every day.
When you need to find me, but I can't be found.
Keep me in your heart, so I'm always around.
'Cause one day, I'll leave you with only memories.
So, until that day comes, give your love to me.
When you need to find me, but I can't be found.
Keep me in your heart, so I'm always around.
'Cause one day, I'll leave you with only memories.
So, until that day comes, give your love to me.
Drew allows the last chord to echo. Something captures his attention from inside him. A question? A memory?
"Drew?"
Drew looks unfocused, but that changes when I clutch his hand.
"That was beautiful," I grin. "Your voice is so good and…wow, did you really write that song?"
"Aye," Drew tucks my head under his chin. He embraces me not to comfort me this time, but to comfort himself.
"What's your brother's name?"
Drew tenses.
"C'mon! You know about Brendan. Tell me about your brother."
His chest drops at my back. His sigh hits the crown of my head. "I'll tell you someday. love. Just not tonight. My brother...isn't like yours. Our relationship had been filled with bitterness and resentment. It's difficult to recount it without instigating painful memories."
"But he's your brother," I try to look up, but my head is stuck under his chin. "What sibling doesn't hate their other sibling? Max and I fight all the time! That's what siblings do: they get on each other's nerves. But it's okay because in the end, you're still family, and you love each other."
When Drew doesn't say anything, I hum despondently.
"That bad, huh? Okay, I'm sorry for assuming things. I'll drop it now."
Drew plants a kiss on my head, making me swoon. "Thank you, love. So, you enjoyed my performance?"
"I loved it! Thank you for sharing it with me. I can tell how hard playing that song is for you, so playing it for me—reliving those memories…you're just so brave."
"I hope this inspires you to do the same with me, someday. It's terrifying to share your painful past with someone but feels good if it's with the right person."
My chest aches. "Maybe someday."
"Would you like me to write a song about you too?"
"I'd be honored," I bite back a yawn while snuggling into his embrace. "You're so talented. I would love to be your muse."
"Sleepy?"
"No."
"Come on, love," Drew sweeps me off the bench and out of the room. He drops me off in the master bedroom, right at the bathroom door. "Make yourself comfortable, love, and tell me if you need anything. I'll be joining you a little later."
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"I'm going to get some work done first. Expect another delicious meal when you wake up. I'll be preparing it myself."
"You can sing and cook? You're every girl's dream."
"No dreams needed, love. I'm yours," Drew cups my cheeks and gives me a long kiss. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
We finally part so Drew can leave. I watch him until he does and then enter the bathroom.
~.~
I wake up the next morning to a loud snarl. Drew is pacing the bedroom, completely naked. My blush hides behind my fingers as my boyfriend yells at his phone.
"I told them to hold it! Why has it been…bloody hell," Drew curses when he catches me listening. "We'll discuss this later."
I sit up as Drew hangs up and tosses his cell phone on the bed. His fingers rake his hair in frustration. "I'm sorry, love. Did I wake you?"
"Yes," I admit softly.
"I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you with breakfast. I've promised you a good one."
"What got you so angry on the phone?"
"Don't worry, love. It's just business."
Which is off-limits to me, apparently. That's fine, my business is off-limits to him too.
Still, my disappointment must be evident because Drew kisses my forehead longer than expected. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Let me feed you. I've promised you a good meal, and I'm going to deliver."
I yelp when Drew lifts me into his arms. I'm naked like him, so we're both just bare in the vast space of his penthouse.
"Drew! I can walk to the kitchen. And we're naked!"
"I have aprons."
"That's not enough! What if you get burned? Or messy?"
"Then, you'll just have to clean me up. Now, hush, love, before I make a meal out of you instead. Oh, you'd like that?"
I freeze when I realize I'm wiggling against him. Damn Drew for arousing me without even trying. Before breakfast too!
Still, I let him bring me to the kitchen, where he places me on the kitchen island. I immediately hop off when he pulls stuff from the fridge. "I want to help."
"You don't have to, love."
"I know, but I want to. As you do, when you want to carry me."
Drew taps my nose. "Alright, love. You can help me mix the batter."
He hands me a white apron before tying his on. Not gonna lie, seeing him wearing nothing but an apron does something to me. I have to lock my knees together, so he doesn't see me squirm.
I accept the flour and other ingredients and get to work. "What are we making?"
"Crepes."
"That sounds good. Do you have bacon?"
"No, because we're going to eat healthy today," Drew taps my nose again when I pout. "But if you're good, we can visit one of your favorite fast-food joints for lunch."
I grin. "Deal."
Breakfast is fruit and chocolate crepes with herbal tea and orange juice. The food is delicious, and I can't resist pulling Drew into a kiss when I walk by to wash my hands. I'm happy. Too happy.
Which is why I get scared again.
"What's wrong?" Drew asks as I make my way back to my chair. He doesn't let me get there, though. He pulls me into his lap and wraps my waist, trapping me. "May, please."
I stare at the refrigerator and our blurry reflections on its metal doors. "What do you get out of this?"
"Out of what?"
"Out of marrying me. I get power and influence, I know that, but what about you? What can marrying me get you that you can't get anywhere else?"
"Haven't I made myself clear, love?" Drew tilts my chin to look at him. "It's you. I get you. Do you not see your worth enough to understand that you're enough for me?"
"I…I see fine," I grumble. "It's just…you're so kind to me. And so generous. All I've done is break your heart."
"Is that really what you see, love? Do you only see heartache between us?"
Drew stands until he has me back on the counter and himself between my thighs. "Out of all the riches I own in this world, I haven't had someone care about me the way you do. You found something in my dark heart to treasure. Someone to love."
I stammer, "D-Drew, I…"
"I know, May, you don't love me. Not yet. You're afraid to let me in your heart because it's broken, and you don't want to risk any more damage."
I break eye contact. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Read my mind. Are you sure you aren't doing that instead of controlling me?"
Drew chuckles, tapping my nose again. Is this a thing he does now? Why is it so unbearably cute? "No mind-reading, love. I just pay attention. And I can relate to it, as you already know. We're both healing."
My hands rest on his shoulders. "I don't want you to think I don't care about you, Drew, because I do. It terrifies me, but I won't deny it. You mean enough to me that I want you to know that."
"Don't worry, love, I do."
"If we…if we do get married, we need a little more time before we do. Doing it for political reasons is a good idea, but it doesn't feel right."
Drew traces my cheek. "Would you like to fall in love with me first?"
"I…" I gape, "I don't know. Maybe. I just don't want to marry you because it's convenient for me. It makes our relationship feel cheap, and it's worth a lot more than that."
"I'm glad you feel that way, love, because I feel the same. You mean more to me than you know."
I lean to kiss him, and he tightens our embrace to deepen it. Then Drew lifts me off the counter and carries me back to the bedroom. In minutes, the headboard of the bed hits a concrete wall with a steady wham-wham-wham, cracking the paint with our passion.
"Yes! Drew! Drew! Ah…Ahhh!"
I come hard, and then moan when Drew's essence fills me. When he falls on my chest, I realize that we're sinking. The sides of the mattress tilt upward, and the frames below us creak.
"Have we…have we broken the bed?"
Drew stands to study the frames. One look at his smirk, and I have my answer.
"So, we have," Drew brags to the window.
The afternoon sun is bright, but Drew's smile is brighter. And when I realize it's for me, the last of my defenses crumble to dust.
I really, really like Drew. There's a chance I may feel even more than that. So even if that fact terrifies me more than ever, I'll ride it out for this amazing man in front of me.
I'll find another way to save Max and his family. Drew is worth the effort. He's worth everything.
Nothing and no one will take him away from me.
