by Haley Travis
He was a client now, and I shouldn’t get involved.
He was a bit older than me, and likely far more experienced.
My mind spun with excuses and fear, yet my body leaned in, my mouth an inch from his. “Not yet,” I whispered.
Ethan’s soft kiss took my breath away, leaving me feeling floaty and strange. His arm slipped around my shoulders, pulling me against him as my lips parted, deepening our connection.
My hand slipped up his arm and around his shoulder, feeling along every muscle. His hand slipped up my neck and into my hair, caressing me gently as I held back a moan.
I would have thought that a moment like this would terrify me, or paralyze me with awkwardness. Instead, everything was perfect, my body taking over and shutting my mind out.
The clink of plates at my elbow as our food arrived broke our trance.
“Sorry,” Ethan said to the waiter who had been carefully looking only at the table.
I stifled a giggle as he gave my hand another squeeze. As soon as the waiter was gone, Ethan leaned in to nuzzle my ear. “You’re so delicious, Corina. I can’t wait to eat every inch of you.”
My startled gasp clearly amused him, as he chuckled, topping up our wine glasses. My thighs quivered from the thought of him...I couldn’t even think it through.
Over the most incredible spicy chicken noodles, we chatted lightly, getting caught up on our lives since high school.
I told him about my best friends from university, and how lucky I was to find a great job immediately out of school. He told me about taking one semester of music, then touring with a few different bands to learn the ropes and hone his stage presence. Since going solo last year, he’d developed quite the following already.
“So it’s just you?” I asked.
“It was, for about a year, then I wanted a bigger sound. Now I have a band – a drummer, bassist, and lead guitarist. But I sing and play rhythm guitar, and write all of the songs.”
“What’s the band called?” I asked.
He shrugged. “There’s no name, really.”
“Ethan Cooper and his band?” I laughed.
“Pretty much,” he shrugged. Pushing his plate away, he moved closer, slipping an arm around me to kiss my cheek. Tucking my head against him, I realized that this was the sort of thing that paparazzi were always trying to snap with famous people, to be the first to report new couples.
Then my head jerked up.
“That’s something that would be talked about,” I said, pushing him away to face him. “Name your band, and announce it at the show. People love being at a live reveal of anything.”
His saucy grin was causing a fascinating pressure low in my belly. “That is a great idea,” he said slowly. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he dictated a message while flashing me a wink. “Hey guys. Start brainstorming names for our band, and bring them to rehearsal tomorrow.”
His phone slipped back into his pocket as his arm slipped around me again. “You’re a genius, Corina,” he whispered into my ear.
“No, just doing my job.”
“What else does your job entail?”
The way his eyebrow raised suggestively, I could tell he was teasing. But I couldn’t tell whether he was simply being playful, or whether he was testing the waters to see how far I wanted to take this little flirtation.
“I’ll be taking care of your entire project,” I said slowly, trying not to bite my bottom lip. How could those eyes make me feel chilled and overheated at the same time? “Ensuring that the event goes smoothly, and that you get as much publicity as possible for you, the show, and the new album.”
“And what about me?” Ethan asked, reaching up to trail his fingertips along the back of my neck. “What if I need inspiration, to make this a success?”
“If that’s part of the project, then I’ll have to look into it,” I said, shocking myself.
He pulled out his phone again. “I need your number.”
I told him, watching him enter it carefully, then text me with the message, “This is Ethan.”
As we left the restaurant, I couldn’t meet anyone’s eye. I would never have thought that I’d end up making out in public, and wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
Ethan drove me home so quickly that I actually wondered if he had somewhere else to go afterward. When we got to my building, he walked me all the way up to my third floor apartment.
Before I could even dig out my keys, his hands gripped me gently, pulling me against him as he held me close.
His goodnight kiss was so steeped in raw emotion that I knew I’d be replaying it in my dreams forever. My soft gasp against his lips seemed to arouse him even more and I could feel the evidence pressed against me.
I’d never truly felt the urge to be naked with a man before, and now I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I knew it was too soon to invite him inside, but I needed more.
He finally broke off the kiss, his lips skimming my forehead as he murmured, “I’m so glad I found you again, little angel.”
Then he was gone, leaving me feeling floaty. As I stepped into my apartment, the only thing I could think of was figuring out how quickly I could see him again.
4
_____
Ethan
After a last-minute songwriting session with my bass player that ended up running until three in the morning, I was going to send Corina a text as soon as I woke up.
Checking my phone, there were already two texts from her, and three emails.
Skimming the emails quickly, she had obviously hit the ground running on my project. Somehow she had coordinated with the concert venue to create a VIP area on the balcony with perfect sightlines of the stage. She had sent formal invitations from her PR company to the record executives I had mentioned, and two more.
She had discovered that the company I was considering for a distribution deal also ran a button printing company, so she was ready to place an order with them as soon as we had named the band.
Chuckling to myself, I got out of bed and stretched a bit. I hadn’t been hitting the gym hard enough lately, and didn’t want to slip up. Corina clearly approved of my new physique, and I didn’t want to lose any of my hard-won gains.
My transformation from scrawny band geek to buff rock guy had been a strange journey, and although it had the pleasant results of making women notice me, there was only one girl whose attention I needed to capture.
After wrenching the kinks from my shoulders, I grabbed my phone again to read her messages.
Corina: No offense, but your social media is a mess. You don’t have a single great photograph of you anywhere. You need a much better online presence immediately. One of our resident photographers is in the office for another shoot at 10 am, so could you be here for 11?
Corina: I’m sorry, I don’t know much about musician life yet, but you are awake, right?
Chuckling to myself, I checked the time. Dammit – nine-forty-five.
Me: Yes – I’m up. I’ll be at your office by 11.
Corina: Great. Bring a few different outfits. Whatever you would wear on stage, then something a bit dressier.
Me: Got it. Can’t wait to see you.
I put the coffee on, and then raced to the building’s basement gym to do the world’s fastest workout in about fifteen minutes. Coffee, shower, clothes, I was out the door with my head still spinning.
When I arrived at her office, Corina was in a small boardroom that had been turned into a temporary photo studio. The table and chairs had all been shoved to one end, as a large white backdrop hung from one wall, surrounded by huge box lights.
“There you are,” Corina said, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me inside. “Perfect timing. We just finished up with the other shoot.”
She introduced me to Kyle the photographer, then tossed my bag aside, and stood me in front of the backdrop.
“Let’s take a few quickly before you can even think,” she said.
Stand
ing awkwardly in front of the intense lights, I had no idea what to do with my hands, or how stiff or loose my posture should be.
“Do you have a stylist or a coach for this one?” Kyle asked Corina.
“No. There’s no time and no budget,” she replied.
“Then it’s all you, girl,” Kyle shrugged, adjusting some setting on his enormous camera. “We only have twenty minutes, so I’ll need to get a winning shot fast.”
It was hard not to laugh at the way they were speaking about me as if I couldn’t hear them.
Corina came over and adjusted the shoulders of my long-sleeved t-shirt.
“I was up late last night studying the photos of the most popular indie bands,” she said. “We need something simple and clean for your main shots, then natural, dirtier photos with the band at rehearsal for the rest of the website.”
Kyle was busy angling a lighting box, so I leaned down to whisper to Corina, “I love how dedicated you are. I’ll do anything you want.”
That soft blush made my heart pound. My fingers twitched, wanting to reach for her.
It was adorable that even though she was slightly timid, she was completely dedicated to getting the job done. Her hands trembled a bit, but she shoved me gently by the shoulder, moving me into position.
We developed a rhythm together. She would move me into a pose then step away while Kyle snapped. Then she’d dart back to arrange my hair, or lower my hand. Touch, snap. Touch, snap.
After around five minutes, Kyle announced, “We’ve got some keepers. New outfit? Leave those jeans on though – they’re totally working for you.”
I rummaged in my bag, showing Corina what I’d brought. She analyzed everything as if it was a science project.
“This green is too bright,” she said, tossing aside a t-shirt.
“You said to bring something dressy...” I said, unrolling a gray blazer.
She held it up. “That’s perfect. But only if you have a black button down shirt.”
“Not with me. The green t-shirt won’t work?”
Corina shook her head. “Too bright against the white backdrop, and we only have a few minutes.”
“Shirtless,” Kyle said, giving Corina a pointed look. “He’s a rocker, honey. A little sex appeal never hurt.”
It was interesting watching her sneak sideways glances as I peeled off my shirt and slipped the blazer on.
“He’s right,” she finally said. “That’s a good look for you, and a lot of the indie guys can’t pull it off nearly as well.”
“Translation – she thinks you’re hot,” Kyle laughed. “Now, move it.”
As I got into position, Corina’s hands fluttered over me, adjusting the collar, and pushing my sleeves up to show off my watch. Her attention to detail was admirable, but I also adored the feeling of her fussing over me. When she stepped back, I couldn’t tear my gaze from those magical eyes, and the way she stared at my chest.
“Corina, I need you to get back here, right beside me,” Kyle said quickly. As soon as she was directly beside the camera, he said, “Now blow him a kiss.”
I realized what he was going for before she did. Pouring every ounce of emotion into my expression, I smiled very slightly as Corina’s lips puckered. I wanted her so badly that I was tempted to ask Kyle to leave and give us a moment.
“Perfect,” Kyle muttered, snapping wildly. “Now shoot that expression right at the lens.”
The second I did, Corina gasped, looking at the display panel. “Wow. That’s the one.”
“Damn straight,” Kyle chuckled. “We have a winner.”
He packed up his gear as I threw my first shirt back on, and Corina checked her phone. “Hey,” she asked, “When is the next time you have rehearsal with your band?”
“Tonight at five. Why?”
“We need some shots with your whole band, but those could be lower resolution and natural.”
As Kyle lugged a camera bag out the door, I grabbed her wrist. “Are you saying that you’re going to come to my rehearsal tonight and take the photos yourself?”
“Well, that would definitely be the most expedient way to get them done immediately,” she said, but I noticed the twinkle in her eye.
“Perfect. Then you can both meet the guys, and check out my apartment.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Our drummer, Skippy, is a bartender, so he has to leave at nine. Why don’t you come by at eight-thirty?”
“Sure – text me the address.”
I helped her tidy up the room, then watched as she clearly became more nervous. She was likely concerned that I would try to give her a hug goodbye in her workplace.
“Thanks so much,” I said, extending my hand to her. “I’ll help Kyle carry his gear out, and speak with you soon.”
“Perfect,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief.
As soon as I had carried the backdrop to Kyle’s van and jumped into my car, I grabbed my phone.
Me: You want to be professional in the workplace, I get it – don’t worry, I’ll manage to behave. Thanks for a great photo shoot.
Corina: Thank you for understanding. I’ll be sending you emails all day. Sorry for the information blast, but we need to get things straightened out as quickly as possible.
Me: You’re amazing. Do you know that?
Corina: You’re silly.
Me: You’re gorgeous. It was so hard not to kiss you, angel.
Those three little dots hovered in my phone, making me laugh.
Me: It’s OK. You don’t have to respond to that. Can’t wait to see you tonight.
5
_____
Corina
Although my day was completely jammed with phone calls, emails, and coordinating the details of Ethan’s big show, I couldn’t stop picturing the way he looked at me during the photo shoot.
It made absolutely no sense that a man who was so talented and so striking would fixate on me the way he clearly did.
It didn’t help that his singing voice was positively stunning, and I couldn’t get his songs out of my head. He sent me a copy of his latest album and I listened to it with headphones at my desk while studying every bit of information I could find about the record executives.
By late afternoon, I had ensured that the venue would be stocked with their favorite brands of liquor, and had hired a private server for the VIP area so that they could have drinks and snacks brought to them without missing a single note of the concert.
They would never expect to be pampered to this degree at an indie rock show, so it should definitely set Ethan’s band apart.
As I was leaving the office at seven-forty-five, I sent him a text.
Me: Don’t forget to make a list of band names while you have the guys all together.
I didn’t expect an answer right away, but my phone beeped as I got into a cab.
Ethan: We are on it! We are good little boys who do our homework.
Laughing, I gave the driver his address, with no idea what neighborhood that street was in.
At the edge of a run down residential area was a big old candy factory that had been turned into condos. I thought that might be the building. But we passed that, and the driver pulled up in front of a three story warehouse.
The bottom floor was now divided into a bakery and a furniture store, but as I walked up to the third-floor, it looked like the rest had been turned into giant apartments.
I followed the muffled music down the hallway, and I waited for the song to end before knocking.
I heard low voices and rushed footsteps. Then Ethan flung open the door, sneaking an arm around me so fast it took my breath away.
His lips crushed to mine in a scorching kiss. My purse hit the floor as he backed me against the door frame, pressing our entire bodies together as his tongue met mine.
Instantly my mind swam with desire, needing so much more. In a flash, I realized that I wanted him completely.
“Sorry,” he chuckled, backing away. “It was
so hard not to touch you at your office.”
I picked up my purse as he grabbed my hand, leading me into an absolutely gorgeous loft space.
“This looks like a movie set,” I said admiringly.
It was perfect Bohemian chic, with exposed brick across the longest wall, and huge wooden beams across the ceiling, and posts throughout. Rich burgundy and black patterned rugs covered portions of the old wooden floor.
