Love Desired

by Kelli McCracken

  Ignoring her was my best option. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be around long. Mia said she was usually in and out, but she had stayed as long as a month in the past. It wasn’t the best scenario, but I could keep my distance for a month. The question was, could she?

  I didn’t think I was so special that she couldn’t resist me. It was the fact that she knew Mia and I were together. If Izzy hated Mia as much as she said, I wouldn’t put it past her to drag me in the middle.

  Mia wasn’t happy to hear that Izzy knew about us. She knew what a big mouth her sister had. I couldn’t deny it, which meant everyone at Music Haven would know that Mia and I were dating.

  Fuck it. Let them find out. I didn’t care. Never had. I went along with it for Mia, and only because she felt like she was doing right by me. She already had.

  Of course, it wasn’t that simple. The knowledge of our relationship would get around. Wesley would hear about it soon enough. While I was curious as to how he’d react, I didn’t want him retaliating against Mia. She’d been through enough.

  “You’re in deep thought, aren’t you?”

  I glanced at Bentley, who sat on the stool next to me. He was finishing off the second beer he’d pulled from the bucket Max brought him.

  “Sorry, man. Just have a lot on my mind.”

  My friend nodded while staring at the bar. “I assume this is about your crazy ass ex-girlfriend showing up and the fact that she’s your girlfriend’s half-sister.”

  “Aren’t you a clever one?”

  I grimaced at my own sarcasm. Bentley didn’t take it personally. He never did. It still didn’t give me the right to be callous with him. He was my friend, the guy who always had my back. He’d gone to bat for me with Izzy in the past. I had no doubt he would again if she caused any trouble.

  “My mind has been spinning for the last few days. Mia says everything is good, but I can’t help but feel like there’s a wall forming between us. Am I paranoid?”

  “I don’t know. Mia’s hard to read sometimes. She keeps a lot of stuff bottled. If it makes you feel better, Andi hasn’t mentioned anything. You know if something were wrong, she’d talk to Andi.”

  “Yeah, but do you think Andi would tell you knowing we’re as good of friends as they are?”

  He shrugged. “Andi tells me a lot of stuff about Mia. Trust me, dude, I know more about your relationship than you do.”

  I glared at him, but he laughed. He was trying to lighten my mood, but only one thing would. Mia. She and Andi would be here soon.

  If not for the text she sent me explaining that she was on a call with our label, I would have worried why she was ten minutes later than usual. She was as punctual as she could be for someone running a business the way she did. It didn’t stop things from popping up or mishaps from occurring.

  “Looks like the girls are heading our way.”

  I wasn’t sure how Bentley knew. He was leaning against the bar, staring in the opposite direction. “How do you know?”

  “Max is making their drinks, just like he does every night when he sees them closing down for the day.”

  When I noticed the bartender mixing cocktails near the liquor shelf, part of me felt like an idiot. I wasn’t as observant as Bentley. Then again, my head was crammed full of thoughts. Concentrating on anything was hard.

  He was right though. The sweet, fruity scent of Mia’s perfume reached my nose before her hand swept over my shoulders. Then she sat on the stool on my other side.

  “Hey there,” I smiled as I touched my hand to hers. I didn’t leave it there, but it was enough to let her know I was glad to see her. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, just a little tired. You were tossing and turning last night.”

  “I was?” When she nodded at me, I brushed the top of her hand again. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m fine. What about you? Did you have a bad dream?”

  “I don’t remember dreaming about anything.” For a moment, I didn’t think she believed me. She avoided my eyes and thanked Max when he set her cocktail in front of her. After she took a long sip, she set it down and looked at me. Then she brushed my hand this time.

  “Let’s finish our drinks and head to my suite. I just want to be alone with you tonight.”

  Her comment concerned me. “What’s wrong, Mia?”

  “Nothing. In fact, I have good news for you guys.” She motioned for me to get Bentley’s attention. “I spoke with Richard Russell this evening. He wanted to get one of your singles out to test the market, so he used Blinded by Love. It hit the charts tonight at number ninety-seven.”

  Was this the reason she was acting so strangely? Had it been a ruse to disguise the good news she had to share. She seemed to be in a better mood now that she’d told us.

  “I can’t believe we’re on the charts,” Bentley mumbled beside me. He raised his beer toward me as we toasted the news. It felt good to hear something positive. Ever since Izzy showed up, I felt like a cloud of negativity was hanging over me. Not tonight.

  “Russell is anxious for you guys to finish recording. I told him you only have a few more songs left.”

  “We should be finished next week, right?”

  “That’s what I told him.” She clasped my hand and squeezed softly. “It’s happening, Ayden. Your band is getting the recognition it deserves.”

  I wanted to kiss her. It took everything in me not to lean in and do it, but I held back. There were too many people around. Someone would notice. I didn’t doubt that people were finding out about us, but until we knew for sure, I’d honor Mia’s wishes. Besides, I’d have her to myself soon enough. I’d do more than kiss her. I’d devour every inch of her body.

  As she took another drink of her cocktail, I glanced around the bar. I didn’t see anyone looking at us. After scanning the bar another time, I spotted a pair of eyes locked in our direction.

  Izzy.

  She was standing near the dance floor, talking to a few of the choreographers. It made me wonder if she used to dance while she was here at Music Haven. The girl had some moves. It was her dancing that enticed me enough to take her back to my place and fuck her. It seemed like a lifetime ago, but I hadn’t forgotten the art of her seduction.

  In a way, Mia had gotten to me the same way. It was her dance with Jenna Justice that had me reconsidering the feelings I fought against from the moment we met. Still, I’d gotten to know Mia before we slept together. I cared about her for the right reasons. Now I was in love with her.

  Aside from being great dancers, Mia and Izzy had little in common. Their personalities were nothing alike. Neither were their appearances. Izzy had straight, jet-black hair and dark eyes. Mia’s curls were brunette, and her eyes were a beautiful green. Mia was taller than Izzy too, and a hell of a lot curvier. Compared to her sister, Izzy looked like a twig.

  Looking back now, I don’t know what I ever saw in her. I guess I didn’t think clearly. How could I? She was never supposed to be more than a fling. I wasn’t ready for a relationship, but the more I was around her, the more she screwed with my head. I thought I loved her.

  What I felt for Mia was twice as strong.

  The thought made me smile. Izzy must have thought it was meant for her because she waved at me a second later. Shaking my head, I turned to finish my drink when I caught Mia staring at her sister. She looked at me a moment later, and that’s when I saw the questions in her eyes. Did she think I was smiling at Izzy?

  Probably so. Mia couldn’t read my mind. How was she to know that I was thinking about how different they were or how grateful I was for that fact? What would it take for her to see the truth?

  She was everything to me. Izzy was nothing.

  * * *

  ~Mia~

  I hadn’t noticed my sister enter the arena while Andi and I were working. Seeing her on the dance floor with some of my choreographers chilled me to the bone, especially when I realized she was gawking at Ayden.

  It didn’t take long for me
to finish my drink once I saw Ayden looking her way. I hoped the liquor would calm my nerves, but it did little to help. I was on edge, and that feeling only increased when Izzy smiled at Ayden and waved. Worse than that, I saw the smile he was wearing.

  All I wanted to do was leave. I couldn’t stand being around my sister or knowing she was watching every move Ayden and I made. If I gave in to the anger rising inside me, it would give her the satisfaction to know she was able to mess with my head. I refused to allow her to ruin my evening. I’d just given Ayden and Bentley some of the best news they could receive. I wanted to celebrate this victory with him, not vie with my sister for his attention.

  No. This was all in my head. I was letting the past rule me. Ayden wasn’t D. I wasn’t the same innocent twenty-one-year-old girl so lovestruck that I turned a blind eye to what was in front of me.

  I knew what my sister was capable of doing, but I knew Ayden too. She’d hurt him. He hated her for what she did. There was no way he wanted her, no matter how obvious it was to me that she still wanted him.

  Once I noticed him moving in my peripheral, I glanced in his direction. The way his eyes widened when he saw me didn’t settle the anxiety working its way through me. I wanted to ask him what he was doing, why he was looking at Izzy in the first place, and what his smile was about. Instead, I played with my empty glass.

  I couldn’t speak. With the array of emotions rolling through me, there was no way I trusted my voice. The last thing I wanted to do was cause a scene. Ayden didn’t need to know I was upset.

  I turned to ask Ayden if he was ready but found him glancing at Izzy again. My insecurities resurfaced. Different scenarios ran through my mind, twisting my stomach inside and out.

  “Are you okay?”

  His question caught me off guard. I studied him a moment, searching for any sign that the pit forming in my stomach was my mind playing tricks. This nonsense was in my head.

  “I’m just ready to leave.” I made the mistake of peeking at my sister. All it took was a split second to see the smile on her face. She knew she was getting to me.

  “Are you sure you don’t want another drink before we go?”

  Why was he stalling? We’d already discussed leaving after this round. I wanted to be alone with him. Now that I knew Izzy was up to her old tricks, I was more desperate to get him out of here. If not, I would hurt her.

  “If you want to stay and celebrate with Bentley, I understand, but I have to go.”

  “Why?”

  His question hurt me more than anything. Had he forgotten why we agreed to leave? “I wanted to spend some time with you, not watch my sister stare at you all night. She still wants you.”

  “This is a game, Mia. She’s playing you. It’s what she does. Don’t play into it.” He stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I love you.”

  I wrapped my hand around his wrist and lowered his arm. “You think I don’t know what she’s doing? I’ve known her a lot longer than you. She’s messed with my life every bit as much as she has yours.”

  Once I released his hand, he grabbed both sides of my face and leaned his head towards mine. “Then you should know that I have no interest in her regardless of what she may or may not feel about me. If she’s showing me any attention at all, it’s because she knows it’s pissing you off. Don’t let her get to you.”

  “Then leave with me. Come with me to my suite.”

  As much as I wanted to be relieved when he nodded his head and offered me his hand, putting space between Izzy and us was my primary focus. I wanted to be in my suite, tucked safely away from her prying eyes. The less she knew about our relationship, the better off we would be. I had to come up with a plan because there was no doubt in my mind that Izzy had no intention of making this visit a short one.

  I had to find a way to get her to leave.

  I thought of different ways I could make it happen as Ayden and I waved goodbye to Andi and Bentley before making our way to the entrance. He kept in perfect step with me, assuring me that he was right behind me. It wasn’t until he put his arm around me that a few people glanced in our direction.

  As much as I wanted to wiggle out of his embrace and protect him from any type of rumors that were forming, I didn’t want Izzy to think she was causing problems between us. If anything, I hoped it proved to her that I didn’t care what she thought, or anyone else for that matter. As long as Ayden was happy, I was too.

  Once we made our way outside, we hopped in the cart as I drove us back to the condo. I couldn’t wait to get into my suite. I wanted out of these clothes and into something comfortable. Then I could focus on Ayden. We needed to discuss what happened tonight. I let my insecurities get in the way of my trust for him. I couldn’t allow it to happen again.

  He didn’t say much as we entered the building and walked toward my suite. The sanctuary inside called to my soul. I didn’t waste time grabbing my key from my pocket or sliding it into the door.

  The tension I felt most of the day eased once we were inside and I heard the lock re-engage. Then Ayden was in front of me. His eyes roamed my face as his rigid appearance worried me. Was he angry with me for my reaction in the bar?

  Before I could ask, he pulled me into his arms and pressed his mouth to mine. Each roll of his tongue made my mind hazy. It wasn’t the reaction I expected. It was far better.

  Desperation radiated within him. It showed in the way his mouth locked to mine, in the way his hands roamed my body, in the way his chest rumbled from his soft groans.

  I didn’t think he would pull away. Disappointment consumed me when he did. He kept me in his arms, but he was leaning his head back, scanning my face slowly.

  “Do you realize what you do to me? You’re underneath my skin, Mia. When I’m with you . . . I’ve never felt anything this consuming.”

  “And you’re sure this isn’t just something physical?”

  I hated the way his nostrils flared as much as the way he shook his head. “Are you serious?”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying right now. Izzy has me on edge.”

  “That’s what she wants. We both know this. I don’t know why you’re letting her get—”

  “Because I saw you smiling at her.”

  My suite grew void of all noise except the humming of some appliances and the distant sound of music from the arena. I regretted my words the instant I said them, but I couldn’t take them back. No matter what I did, it didn’t change this moment. I’d hurt him.

  “I wasn’t smiling at her, even though you’re not the only one who thought I was. I’m assuming it’s the reason she waved at me. Contrary to what you both thought, I was thinking about how different the two of you are and how grateful I am for that fact. Thinking of you always makes me smile.”

  His words only added to my guilt. My face was on fire. I had to look away because if I stared at him one more second, I would burst into tears. Anger pulsed through me for being a fool. Izzy loved making one out of me, and I let her do it again tonight.

  “Say something.”

  Ayden’s voice made my skin pimple. So did his arms when his muscles flexed around me. I found the nerve to meet his gaze, but I still didn’t trust my voice.

  “I’m sorry.” It came out as a whisper, but it was enough for him. He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear then trailed his fingers across my cheek.

  “Don’t be. I understand how manipulative your sister is. Besides, the fact that you’re afraid of what she’ll do just proves to me that you’re afraid of losing what we have as much as I am. I promise you, Mia, I’m in this with you for as long as you want me.”

  “That’s never going to stop.”

  When he kissed me again, I let go of the fear tearing me apart and surrendered to the passion between us. I couldn’t doubt him. What we had was different than my previous relationships. I could trust him. There was no way he’d go back to Izzy. Whatever plans she was concocting to tear us apart wouldn’t work. Ayden
and I were stronger than anything she could dish us.

  I was sure I would prove that point soon enough.

  Chapter 13

  ~Mia~

  I closed my eyes as the computer screen disappeared from my sight. The day had dragged by, and if I didn’t get these last reports emailed to Dave Shultz, he’d be calling me in the middle of the night asking where they were.

  I had other plans this evening, and they didn’t include getting a three a.m. wake up call. At that time, I planned to be in my bed, snuggled against Ayden. It’s how we spent every night, but it didn’t mean I wanted to be disturbed.

  Over the last week, we hadn’t dealt with any other issues regarding Izzy. I’d come to terms with the fact that she was the girl who broke Ayden’s heart. He’d made it apparent that he wasn’t interested in her, and ever since he placed his arm around me when we left the bar, he’d grown bolder about showing me affection.

  I knew if it were up to him, he’d get on stage and announce to everyone that I was his girl. He’d joked about it once, but like most jokes, they always contained a little truth.

  “You look like you need a drink.”

  Opening my eyes, I gazed at Max. I hadn’t expected to see him on this side of the bar, even though he worked it sometimes when covering a shift for someone who was sick or running late.

  “If you’re the one mixing it, then yes, I need a drink.”

  He chuckled at me as he grabbed a glass from the rack above. “The usual?”

  “No. Give me a rum and coke.”

  I didn’t miss the way he smirked. “Switching things up?”

  “Yes, sir. Change is good, don’t you think?”

  Nodding at my reply, he got to work on my drink. It didn’t take him but a minute to pour the rum in the glass then grab the nozzle for the soda machine. After a few quick stirs, he set the glass in front of me.

  “One rum and coke for the rock ‘n’ roll heiress.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That makes me sound like some rich, wealthy woman who’s next in line for the throne. I’m not royalty.”