by JB Salsbury
“I love you too.”
He walks away and out the door, and I watch his butt the entire way.
“See!” I say to my constipated-looking roommate. “He loves me.”
“Yep.” She stands, still not looking the least bit happy. “I heard it.”
“Everything is going to be okay.”
“I hope for your sake you’re right.”
Jesse
Day Sixty-One.
Less than a month to go.
I’ve ripped my hands through my hair so many times over the last twenty-four hours, my head is numb.
After the press found out about my being in Surprise, and all the photos of me kissing Bethany surfaced, Dave said I need to “strike while the iron is hot.” In Hollywood, any kind of publicity is good publicity. That doesn’t mean I like what they say about me—I sure as fuck don’t like what they said about Bethany—but a resurgence of my name means the public isn’t over me yet. If Dave can get my new songs to the record label, it might make them consider signing me back on.
I left Bethany’s yesterday on a mission to record on my phone the songs I’ve been working on and send them to Dave by eight o’clock, in time for a dinner meeting with a rep from Arenfield Records. I’ve recorded five songs, including “From the Ashes.” It took me all day to get them just right. They’ll sound much better with some backup vocals, a full band, and after mix and mastering, but I’m proud as shit of the stuff I sent him.
As much as I wanted to go hang out with Bethany last night, I was up against the wire, and by the time I got the songs sent off, I had a new song idea I wanted to work on while it was fresh. I completely forgot to call her until after ten o’clock, and by then I was no good to anyone and needed sleep.
Bethany was cool about it. I assured her I’d pick her up and take her to church in the morning. I’d much rather keep working, but I don’t want to let her down again.
It’s now nine o’clock in the morning on Sunday and I’m on hold, waiting for Dave to tell me if my career is in the shitter or if my songs bought me another chance.
“Jes, you there?”
I make sure the volume on my phone is all the way up and push a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I’m here.”
“You sitting down?”
I’m on the floor in Ben’s room, my back to the bed, my heart in my throat. “Would you spit it out already?”
“I listened to your songs with Mark.”
“Mark Arenfield?”
“No, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Yes, Mark Arenfield. I didn’t want to tell you that’s who my meeting was with. I thought you’d get all up in your head about it.”
He’s probably right. “And? What did he think?”
“Jes…”
“Fuckin’ hell, spit it out already!”
“He loved ‘em, man!”
“What?” I whisper.
“You’re back!”
I let the phone slip from my hand and drop to the floor as I shove my fists in my eyes. “I did it. I fucking did it.”
I can’t believe he loved them.
Ten years in this business and I’ve never come this close to losing everything I’ve worked for. I make a vow right here and now to never let things get that bad again.
His voice sounds like a hyper chipmunk coming from the phone between my feet, and I scramble to get it back to my ear. “Sorry, what was that?”
“I said, I didn’t think you were going to be able to pull it off. Not to be a dick, but it’s been a long time since you’ve delivered this kind of quality. Mark lost his shit when I played him ‘From the Ashes.’ He wants you home to record ASAP.”
“But I have another twenty-nine days.”
“It’ll take some time for us to prep the band. I’m going to fly you out for a day to meet with them, we’ll discuss that later, but Mark doesn’t want to sit on these. He said ‘From the Ashes’ is the best song you’ve ever written. Do you have any more besides the five you sent me?”
“I have one more I’m still tweaking and two more that I’ve written lyrics for but not the music. It’d be cool to work on those with the band.”
“That’s perfect. We’ll get a new album recorded and get you back on top.”
“Fuck yeah, when do we start?”
“We’ll aim for two weeks, give or take, depending on the band.”
“Let me call Nathan. I’ll play him the songs. I think I can get him back—”
“Sorry, Jes, but Nathan made it clear he’s done. I have someone who might be willing to take Nate’s place. Between us? He’s got the potential to be better than Nate.”
“No fucking way.”
“Wait til you hear him, man. You’re gonna shit.”
“Who is he?”
“He’s out of Las Vegas. Name is Ryder Kyle. His current band just bit the dust because his lead singer went solo.”
I grunt. “Never heard of him.”
“Well, you will, and when you do, I won’t say I told you so.” There’s the voice of Dave’s assistant in the background. “All right, I gotta run. I’ll be in touch.”
Perfect. I’m finally getting out of here.
Why the hell am I not more excited?
I knock on Bethany’s door harder than I need, feeling as though I’m about to explode. I haven’t been able to think straight since I got off the phone with Dave. I showered, got dressed, and broke multiple speed limits on my way to Bethany’s apartment. Now that I’m here, she’s not opening the door fast enough.
I knock again. “Bethany, hurry up!”
“I’m coming!”
I’m bouncing on my toes when she finally opens the door.
“My gosh, is everything okay?” She’s gripping a towel at her chest, her hair dripping wet, water sliding down her skin.
I step inside and right into her personal space, wrapping my arm around her waist. I press my mouth to hers, and she moans and parts her lips. I slide my tongue against hers then pull away to nip at her mouth. “Where’s Ashleigh?”
“I don’t know, why?”
I grip her ass and lift her up. Her legs wrap around my waist and her free hand around my neck. Still kissing, I walk her into her bedroom without bashing her against any sharp corners or walls. I shut her door and lay her back on her bed. Her towel falls open at her waist, revealing what I already assumed—she’s completely bare underneath. With a knee on the bed, I open the top of her towel to reveal her perky breasts tipped with dusty-pink nipples. I run my hand from her collarbone down between her tits and make slow circles around each one with my fingertip.
“You take my breath away.” I brush my thumb across her puckered nipple, and her back arches off the bed.
“You’re early,” she says in a breathy whisper.
I continue to tease her with barely-there touches and rough swipes against her sensitive skin. I trail my fingers over her ribcage to her belly button and finally sink them between her legs. “I have good news, but when you opened the door dressed like something I could eat, I decided my news could wait.”
“What news?” She tilts her hips, taking my fingers deeper until her breath hitches.
“I said it could wait.” I drop to my knees by the bed, hook her by the hips, and bring her pussy to my face.
I suck, lick, and bite at her needy flesh. She tastes so pure, clean, a delicacy a man like me doesn’t deserve. But I’m an asshole and I take it anyway. I’ve never been the type to spend hours on foreplay, but with Bethany, I could spend days. I want to set up a tent and camp between her legs.
I lick her deep and groan. “You taste so fucking good.”
Her hands grip my hair and hold me to her as she rocks against my mouth. My dick punches painfully against my zipper. I never would’ve guessed a woman like Bethany had this kind of drive and confidence to take over her own pleasure the way she does. A saint in the streets and a sex goddess in the sheets.
Her nails rake against my scalp, and it’s all the warning I ne
ed. I push two fingers inside her and suck when her orgasm hits. Her thighs slam around my head, taking me deeper for the seconds it takes before her body turns to Jell-O. Her thighs fall limply apart, and I pull back just enough to look at her while keeping my fingers slowly moving inside.
“If this nanny thing doesn’t work out for you, you might want to consider porn.”
Her head pops off the bed, and despite the haze of post-orgasmic bliss, her eyes are wide. “Shut up.”
“I’m not kidding, babe. You’re fucking sexy when you come.” I pull my fingers from her tight core and stick them in my mouth. So good.
She blushes, and damn, that just makes me harder.
I stand and open the button on my jeans. “Now bring me your mouth, I got something I want to put in it.”
She’s propped up on her elbows and glares at me. “Is that supposed to be sexy?”
I pull out my hard-on, gripping it tightly and slowly stroking. Staring at her naked body, her skin flushed, and her thighs wide will send me over the edge too soon. I bite my lower lip and hold back my release, but the way she’s watching my hand move is too much, so I stop. “You forget how well I know your body. You like it when I talk dirty.”
“Do not,” she says as she pushes herself up, scoots to the end of the bed, and slaps my hand away from my dick. Those big dark eyes turn wicked as she peeks up at me with her lips inches from the head. “Maybe I do a little.”
Her perfect pink tongue licks at the tip.
“Fuck.”
Her grin widens and she does it again.
“Stop being a tease.”
She giggles, and even though her mouth isn’t on me, I swear I feel the vibration in my balls.
About to explode, I slide my hands into her wet hair and grip tightly. “Open your mouth.”
“Say please.”
Begging? Yeah, I can beg. For her, I’ll fucking beg. “Please, baby. I want in your mouth.”
She parts her lips and I press forward, sinking my dick between her hot, wet lips in one long, slow push.
“Oh yeah, just like that.”
She presses the flat of her tongue against the sensitive underside as I glide in and out at a maddening pace, drawing out every sensation as she sucks me. “You’re so good at this.”
I don’t want to know how she got so good at sucking dick. I’m just grateful she’s sucking mine. My spine tingles at the base of my back as my release coils between my legs. I pick up my pace, and fuck me, she sucks me harder.
I moan and push deeper, feeling her throat open with every thrust. “Take it.”
She must answer me with some kind of spoken word because her throat vibrates around me.
“It’s coming.”
I loosen my grip in her hair, giving her the opportunity to stop, but she wraps a tight little fist around my shaft and holds me in place.
“You sure?” I ask between panting and trying to focus and stay upright.
She nods.
This woman is perfect.
On that thought, my knees lock and the orgasm hits me like a tidal wave. My muscles shake, and I groan as each surge threatens to knock me on my ass. Stars flash behind my eyes, and I’m grateful for Bethany’s grip on me as it’s the only thing keeping me grounded.
Cold air hits my dick and I blink down to see her crab-walking backward and off the bed. She races to the bathroom and spits in the sink.
Unable to stay vertical, I drop back to the bed and try to remember my own name. The nanny just blew my mind.
I hear her brush her teeth, spit again, then the faucet turns off. The soft padding of her feet on the floor, then the bed dips before she crawls up next to me. I wrap a still-limp arm around her and smile when I feel she’s still naked.
“You all right?” I ask.
She shifts a little and throws her arm over my stomach. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”
I peek down at her, and she’s ducking her head into my ribs. “What the fuck are you sorry for?”
“I’m sure you’re used to girls swallowing. It’s just… I have a gag reflex thing and I didn’t want to throw up on you.”
I run a hand through her hair. “First off, every blow job I’ve had in the past just became irrelevant. Second, I don’t give a shit if you spit. Third, how in the hell did you learn to suck dick like that?”
She laughs. “You really want to know?”
“Not really, but kinda, yeah.”
“YouTube tutorials.”
“No shit?”
She shrugs. “Yeah. Is that weird?”
“No. Not at all. It was fucking amazing. But I have to wonder…”
She puts her chin on my ribs and looks at me. “What?”
I run my thumb across her swollen lips, loving that I made them that way. “Why did that fuckhead Wyatt break up with you?”
Her face pales, and she doesn’t meet my eyes.
“Hey.”
She shakes her head and slides from the bed. I guess I officially ruined the moment by asking about that prick, so I shove my own back into my pants while she grabs clothes. I want to tell her she doesn’t have to tell me, that it’s none of my business, but I want to know. What kind of man gives up a woman who’s not only cute and funny but can suck dick like it’s an Olympic sport?
She sits next to me on the bed and stares at her feet. “Look, there’s something you should know.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. “Hold that thought.” I pull out the device. “It’s Ben.”
Bethany
I wonder if Ben calling right as I’m about to tell Jesse the most humiliating story of my life is divine intervention.
I’ve contemplated whether or not I should give Jesse all the details about my break up with Wyatt or if I should leave the past where it belongs. I’ve argued both sides and been stuck at an impasse each time. The only argument that I keep coming back to is I love Jesse and he loves me and shouldn’t two people who love each other share all their dirty secrets?
I don’t know the answer to that.
“Damn, all right,” Jesse says. “Yeah, I think staying away is smart.” His eyes come to mine, and a tiny smile tilts his lips. “I’ll let her know. Later.” He hits the end button on the phone.
“What did he say?”
“His church is covered in paparazzi. They’re asking about me and about you, so Ben thinks it’s best if we stay away.”
A heavy sinking feeling settles in my stomach. “You mean I’m not allowed to go to church?”
He falls back on my pillows, his colorful arms folded behind his head. “Trust me when I say these assholes are never satisfied. They’ll hound you until you cry.”
“Ha! Cry? I’m so sure.”
“I’m not kidding. They made Ronda Rousey cry outside of The Ivy. Saw it with my own eyes.”
My smile dissolves. “Wow. That’s surprising and really sad.”
He nods. “Anyway, I think Ben just wants to protect you, and I back him up. No church until this shit settles.”
“How long do you think that will take?” I love my church. A day off is one thing, but no church indefinitely? I can’t handle that.
His eyes brighten, bringing out the gold in them. “I guess here is where I share my good news. Dave played my songs for Mark Arenfield.”
“Who’s that?”
“Forget it.” He waves me off. “The good news is he loved them and I’m going back to LA to record.”
His excitement is contagious, so I smile despite the horrid shattering in my chest.
“That’s amazing!” I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and burying my face in his throat. “I’m so happy for you.”
He squeezes my waist and kisses my head. “I have you to thank for it.” I pull back, and he must see the confusion in my eyes. “They loved ‘From the Ashes,’ the song you inspired.”
The chair bonfire. That damn sinking feeling is back. I slide away from him, feeling exposed and bashful. “That was
all you. I just planted the idea in your head.”
He stares at me for a few seconds too long, making me crazy uncomfortable. “Why don’t you come back to LA with me?”
“What? When?”
“This week.”
“Oh, no, I can’t—”
“Why not? Dave said it’ll only be for a day.”
“I have work, and I…” Can’t think of another reason not to.
“One day.” He tilts his head and unleashes the full force of his charm in a crooked smile. “Just say yes.”
“I guess one day wouldn’t hurt—whoa!”
He knocks me on my back and wedges himself between my legs. His mouth fixes over mine, and he kisses me until I’m out of breath. “You make me feel so good.” He kisses me again, dipping his tongue into my mouth, then making me chase him down when he pulls back too soon. “I love you, Bethany.”
“I love you. Now don’t stop kissing me.”
He grins and picks up where he left off. Before I know it, our shirts are off and our hands are grabbing hungrily at each other.
Ashleigh opens my bedroom door. “You guys about ready to go?”
“Don’t you have a lock?” Jesse says, grinning at me.
“I do. I should probably start using it.”
“No use.” Ash jiggles the handle. “This is a standard push lock. I could have it open in seconds without either of you knowing.”
Jesse stays on top of me but turns to my roommate. “No church today. Ben called. It’s a media circus.”
She perks up. “Oh, really? It’s a good thing I’m wearing my best dress then.”
Her best dress is black with a white collar and cuffs. I call it her Wednesday Addams dress, but it’s a good five inches shorter than it should be.
She pushes back a panel of long platinum hair and kicks up one baby doll platform heel. “I’ll go make sure the paps stay away from your brother.”
“You do that,” Jesse says as Ash leaves, closing the door. He gazes down at me. “She knows she’s being really obvious about wanting to fuck my brother, right?”
