Page 1 of Prelude of Love (Harmony of Hearts #6)

Chapter One

EARLY

“Wow, fuck me with a rubber chicken. This garlic bread is amazing.” Noctis moaned around another bite, making everyone around our dining table laugh.

“That’s quite the compliment,” I said with a chuckle. Nothing made me happier than seeing my friends enjoy my food.

“Noctis and his creative swearing strike again,” Tiago said, grinning as he reached for the serving dish of pasta.

Iason looked up from his plate, his status as a world-famous rock star completely absent in the casual comfort of our dinner party.

“Speaking of your unique way with words, are you planning to do another video essay on Star Gazing ? Your last one about the movie’s cast announcement for Rook and Chance was brilliant. ”

Noctis perked up. “Definitely, once they drop a poster, trailer, or teaser. Right now, I don’t have enough footage for a proper deep dive.”

“And we all know how much you’d love a deep dive with Rook,” Levi joked, nudging Noctis. As Iason’s drummer and one of Duke’s oldest friends, Levi had perfected the art of good-natured ribbing.

Noctis’s face flushed pink at his boyfriend’s teasing. “Hey, you’re the one who agreed he could be my hall pass.” His eyes widened as he looked at Iason. “Wait, do famous people get hall passes, too? Like, is there someone even more famous that you’d want to hook up with?”

“I don’t need a hall pass,” Iason said, giving his fiancé a tender smile that transformed his rock-star persona into a man in love. “I had plenty of fun before I met my Cherry. Now that I have him, I don’t need anyone else.”

Orion, the soft-spoken museum curator who’d captured Iason’s heart, snuggled closer to him, making me melt at their sweetness.

“Though I know who Cherry’s hall pass would be,” Iason said, winking at his fiancé. “The gorgeous model, Rune Tourneau.”

Orion’s face turned bright red, making it clear where his nickname came from. “It’s not because he’s a model! I admire his academic work on the French Revolution.”

Tiago snorted. “Sure, and it has nothing to do with his gorgeous face and perfect jawline gracing every fashion magazine cover.” As Iason’s rhythm guitarist, he kept the entire band on their toes with his good humor.

“Or those broad shoulders filling out his tailored suits,” I added.

“Or the way he smolders passionately as he eye-fucks you with a single glance,” Noctis chimed in.

“You’re all terrible.” Orion buried his face in Iason’s shoulder while we laughed.

Levi turned his attention to Ferris, the sandy-haired bassist who somehow kept his boyfriend, Tiago, in line. “What about you? Who’s your hall pass?”

Ferris rolled his eyes. “Please. Tiago is more than enough to handle. The last thing I need is another partner who gets easily excited at the drop of a hat.”

“Oh, Cookie, you handle me fine.” Tiago blew his boyfriend a kiss. “In fact, you handle me multiple times a day when I’m being particularly?—”

“And that’s enough of that,” Ferris cut him off, though his lips twitched with amusement.

“Sally!” Tiago redirected his attention to Sal, the band’s keyboardist, who flinched at the nickname. As the group’s honorary younger brother, he took the brunt of teasing. “Your turn. Who’s your celebrity crush?”

“It was hard enough finding one non-famous person I can tolerate,” Sal said dryly, his typical smart-ass response drawing a fond smile from his boyfriend, Haverford. “I don’t have the patience for celebrity drama for meaningless sex.”

“Aww, you’re such a romantic.” Tiago pretended to swoon.

I noticed Haverford’s knowing smirk. The former attorney had a wicked sense of humor behind his composed exterior.

Apparently, Tiago spotted it, too. “Spill it, Ford. What do you know?”

“Well,” Haverford drawled, “the quickest way to Sal’s heart is through his stomach. I’d put good money on celebrity chef Niccolò de Rosa being his hall pass.”

“Oh, yeah, that tracks.” Tiago nodded sagely. “Niccolò’s got that prickly hedgehog energy you love so much, Sally.”

Sal’s annoyed huff only made everyone laugh harder.

“Hey, a man who can cook is definitely worthy of hall pass status,” Noctis defended.

“Good thing I’m famous and can cook then,” Levi said, pulling Noctis closer.

“Does it count if your boyfriend is already famous?” I wondered. “Can they be your hall pass, too?”

“Speaking of…” Tiago’s gaze landed on my husband, who’d been silently observing the chaos with his typical stoic expression. “Who’s your hall pass, big guy?”

Duke’s scowl could have curdled milk. “No. ”

“Come on, everyone else shared.”

“I bet I know who,” I said in a singsong tone, unable to resist stirring the pot.

“Ooh, give us hints!” Noctis bounced in his seat.

I tapped my chin as I pretended to think it over. “He’s gorgeous, charismatic, talented.”

“Iason?” Tiago guessed, earning a round of groans from everyone.

If looks could kill, Tiago would be bleeding out on our floor from a fatal wound. Duke’s glare was particularly withering as he threatened, “I will break you in half if you say something that stupid again.”

Tiago laughed as if it weren’t an actual threat that Duke and his huge muscles could carry out. “Uh-oh, looks like I touched a nerve.”

Iason wrinkled his nose. “That would be like being with my brother, so that’s a hard no.”

Clearly wanting to take the heat off Tiago, Levi guessed, “Kieran Aiello?”

“Younger,” I said, enjoying the game far too much.

I could barely contain my laughter as Duke’s expression grew stonier with each guess while everyone else became more animated trying to solve the mystery.

“Wouldn’t it be funny if Duke had a thing for bad boys?” Tiago joked. “Someone who’d give him a run for his money. ”

Ferris shook his head. “Nah, he has a type. Look at Early. Duke likes pretty blonds.”

“Maybe he wants the complete opposite,” Sal chimed in. “You know what they say about variety.”

“Duke needs someone who triggers those caveman instincts of his,” Iason said. He had been friends with Duke since they were roommates in college, so he’d know best. “Someone feisty who’ll challenge him.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s a prerequisite,” Levi agreed, since he had also gone to college with us.

Sal remained skeptical. “Celebrity or not, I can’t imagine Duke with anyone other than Early.”

“Not even Chance Prince?” I asked with triumphant glee.

The table erupted in shocked exclamations and delighted laughter. Duke ran his hand over his face with a growl. My ass would pay for being so ornery later, but I couldn’t wait.

“Holy shitbiscuits,” Noctis gasped in amazement. “I can’t imagine Duke having the patience for someone that young.”

Tiago rubbed his chin as he pretended to mull over the revelation. “I suppose it makes sense. He’s someone Duke would want to pin down and assert his authority over.”

“I’m about to assert my authority over you in about three seconds,” Duke snarled .

“Promise?” Tiago asked with a charming smile that drew an irritated huff from my husband.

“It’s not fun for him if you enjoy it,” Ferris pointed out, patting Tiago’s arm.

Levi spoke next. “You know, a feisty musician makes sense the more I think about it.”

“His voice and talent are something special,” Duke finally said in his defense. “It’s not about him being young.”

“But would you have patience for his immaturity?” Haverford asked in surprise.

“He wants to sandwich him between us for a night, not settle down with him,” I said. “Even if he’s annoying in real life, it’d be a one-and-done.”

Iason’s grin spread. “Well, isn’t it convenient that he’ll be filming at both your businesses soon? Seems like the perfect opportunity.”

Tiago snorted into his wine. “It’s fine in a fantasy, but Duke doesn’t strike me as the sharing type. Can you imagine him playing nicely with others? Letting anyone else so much as look at Early, let alone touch him?”

Levi smirked. “Oh, you’d be surprised. Back in college, they were quite adventurous with bringing in thirds. Though I’m not sure if that’s still their thing?”

Duke stiffened in his seat. “It’s not anyone’s business but ours.”

“Why are you so embarrassed about your crush on the pretty rock star?” I asked, enjoying being a little shit. It was so fun to rile him up sometimes because he’d take it out on my ass later.

He gave me a warning look that promised I’d be paying for this in bed once everyone went home.

I couldn’t wait.

The last of our friends’ laughter faded into the night as I closed the front door. In the kitchen, Duke loaded plates into the dishwasher with a precise efficiency that amused me.

“That was fun.” I gathered wineglasses, bumping his hip as I passed. “Though I think someone got a little too grumpy when his secret crush was revealed.”

Duke’s scowl returned full force. “It’s not a crush. I enjoy Chance’s voice. The way he hits those key changes in ‘Falling Like Fire’ gives me chills. His talent deserves recognition.”

“And his pretty face doesn’t hurt, either.” I grinned at his irritated huff. “Come on, you can appreciate his music and his looks. Those pouty lips, those big blue eyes?—”

He cut me off. “It doesn’t matter since it’ll never happen.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” I hugged him from behind, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades. “With him filming at both our places, we might have an opportunity to make something happen.”

Duke snorted. “What interest would someone like him have in two men who are practically his father’s age?”

“I think we could make a very convincing argument.” I slid my hands under his shirt, tracing his abs. “You’ve got that whole brooding daddy energy going on, and you know I’m quite persuasive when I want to be.”

“He needs to focus on his first movie role, not get distracted by lust.”

I gave in to the urge to tease him. “Listen to you. You’re already being protective of him before we’ve even had him in our bed.”

“It would be awkward.” Duke turned to face me, leaning against the counter as he dried his hands. “Melody, Sir, and Mister are our regulars.”