The room falls silent, then she begins to play Oz in a melodic trance that pulls us immediately into the music.
You say so many things. Tell me I still have to wait.
But what you don’t know, is what you don’t know.
No matter what you tell me to do,
I’ll keep holding on to you.
I know lonely, like an old familiar friend.
I know the pain, the way you keep it all in.
I know you don’t know it, but you’ve done your time.
We’ve already paid the price.
I know one day that you’ll be mine,
But until then,
I have to draw the line.
You’re the addiction and I’m afflicted.
You’re the sand in the hourglass of time.
You’re so many things,
Just say you’ll be mine.
Loving someone, loving so much it hurts,
Love until you can’t, love until it gets worse.
I know one day that you’ll be mine,
But until then,
I have to draw the line.
Where does the line go?
Oh, I don’t know. How will I ever know?
I’ll just have to follow wherever it goes.
It crosses the ocean, spanning wider than the sea,
It twists and turns and always ends
Just before you reach me.
I know lonely, like an old familiar friend.
I know the pain, the way you keep it all in.
Maybe you don’t realize, but you’ve done your time.
We’ve already paid the price.
I know one day that you’ll be mine,
But until then,
I have to draw the line.
“So that’s all I have,” she announces, cutting the music off abruptly.
Dallas and I just stare at her, dumbfounded by her talent. Her words pierced the air and inked themselves onto my heart. She doesn’t need either of us; this girl is a star all on her own. I don’t know why she’s allowed herself to remain hidden behind the band, behind Oz, but she’s incredible.
And she’s mine.
And I’m hers.
My pulse throbs as if the music is still playing and I am in motion.
“You should step outside, Dallas,” I tell him urgently. “Like now.”
I walk around my kit and make a beeline for her.
“Seriously, Garrison? What the—”
I don’t hear the rest of his complaint because Dixie is in my arms and her mouth is on mine and Dallas can deal.
Dixie responds eagerly, her mouth moving rhythmically against mine before opening and allowing me inside.
We kiss until we have to come up for air. My hands wander over every inch of her skin before tangling in her hair.
“That song,” I say between mouthfuls of her. “It was about me?”
“It was about us, Gavin. Everything is about us. I don’t know how to make you see—”
“I do, baby,” I say before trailing kisses down her neck. “I do see.”
After forcing ourselves to get through rehearsal, Dixie and I end up falling into her bed.
“Tell me what you want, Bluebird,” I say while looking down into her beautiful blue eyes. They are so warm and trusting as they stare unflinchingly up at me.
“You,” she answers softly. “All I’ve ever wanted or needed is you, Gavin. Just you.”
“You have me,” I tell her as I lower myself down into her. Clutching her to me, I drag us both up to the head of the bed. Tongues and flesh collide as our clothes become distant memories and the promise of what is to come burns bright between us.
I lace my fingers in hers and use our hands to brace myself above her. “Oh God, Gavin,” she cries out as I sink in completely.
I run the tip of my tongue up her throat. “Right here, baby. Always. I’m right here.” I kiss her delicate earlobe gently and then slide several more kisses across her jawline.
“You’re so deep. So amazingly deep.” Her confession breaks me and I damn near lose control.