Cheryl Cole’s new boyfriend has written a sickly-sweet rock ballad for her which includes the lyrics: “My heart’s set free.”

Derek Hough – who composed the cheesy love song, called Epiphany, around the time their romance was made public – also sings “there’s fire inside and a desire I hide”.

Hough laid down the track during an impromptu session at record ­producer Kai ­McKenzie’s studio in Orpington, Kent, earlier this year.

He has told friends he now hopes to re-record Epiphany in the UK as a DUET with Cheryl.

A close friend of Derek’s said: “The song was written in about 45 minutes and it’s obvious who it’s about.

“Derek is very discreet, he doesn’t show his feelings but everything comes out in his music.

“He’s known as a dancer but he’s a talented singer and ­songwriter and when he wrote the song the words just flowed out. It’s written as a duet and Derek said he wants to record it with Cheryl as the second ­vocalist. We did another track a few months later and I asked him if he wanted to go into music and he said, ‘I’m just doing it for fun but I love writing and performing.’”

Derek, 25, has become so close to the Girls Aloud singer, 27, that he’s told his family he plans to move in with Cheryl in Los Angeles.

A source told the Sunday Mirror: “They’ve already found a place they like in Beverly Hills which is like a Mediterranean villa and on the ­market for just under $4million. Cheryl has absolutely fallen in love with it.

“They haven’t signed anything yet but Cheryl says she’s not in a rush as she can’t move out until at least after Christmas, but she’s tempted to snap up this villa now.

“She’s sick of staying in a hotel out there and just wants a permanent place for her and Derek. Simon ­Cowell has also been giving her tips and hints and has put them in touch with the estate agent he used to buy his house.”

Cheryl will move out of the ­£3.5million Surrey home she shared with ­cheating England footballer Ashley Cole, 28.

Derek, who once dated actress Shannon Elizabeth, is due to make another visit to the UK to see Cheryl in a fortnight – and friends believe they will use the visit as a chance to “go public” with their relationship.

The couple text non-stop and call each other pet names – with Derek referring to Cheryl as “CC” and Cheryl calling handsome Derek her “pretty boy”.

The source added: “Derek does want to have a family.

“He has gone through his ­partying years. He’s a relationship kind of guy. He’s not interested in playing the field. And he hates men who cheat. ”

Cheryl has made no secret of her desire for children – and was planning a baby before discovering Ashley had cheated on her with five women. She said: ‘I’m ready now. I’m 27. I’m a woman, not a girl any more.

Source