Chapter Sixteen

THEN

 

Before long, it was dark and they ended back up back at Lyric’s family apartment in the D’Alt Villa, exhausted and tired from the day they had shared. Lenox found himself dozing off as they sat on the balcony staring up at the stars. The sound of Lyric’s rhythmic breathing was beginning to rock him to sleep as he lay his head on his chest and stared out at the city below.

Lenox swam in the sense of comfort and safety that floated through his body at that moment. His thoughts strayed to the last few days and a smile crept up on his face as he realised how happy he was when he was with Lyric, and how far away his twisted past seemed to be with Lyric to distract him from his wayward thoughts.

But then his thoughts drifted to his friends and how angry they must be with him for being so absent during their holiday.

How excited Bambi and he had been about getting out of London for a while. They had made so many plans together for their trip and Lenox felt he had abandoned them. He texted whenever he remembered and told them he was all right, but Bambi’s one-word responses told him she was less than impressed. Guilt began to worm its way into his subconscious, but he shook it away. He knew they would be happy things were going so well with him. After all, it was the girls who’d encouraged the meet in the first instance. They could all party together anytime and anywhere. But for now, Lenox was finding himself satiated with Lyric.

He looked up into Lyric’s aquamarine eyes and smiled the most genuine smile he had smiled in months.

“I don’t remember the last time I was so happy,” he breathed before reaching his head up for a kiss.

Lyric only smiled back and returned his kiss before returning his gaze to the sky above. Lenox felt momentarily dismissed and wished he hadn’t exposed his vulnerability like he did.

A moment later, Lyric excused himself and went to the toilet. Lenox lay back feeling deflated and annoyed at himself.

His mind drifted to the day they had just spent together and the feeling he got when they were together; how warm it made him feel. Safe. Secure. So different from his relationships of the past.

His thoughts were disturbed by the sound of Lyric’s phone going off on the bedside table. Curiosity getting the better of him, he reached to check the screen. With a quick swipe, the phone unlocked itself and the miniature icons came into view…