Backstage (The Barter System Book 4)

by McClendon, Shayne

  As she swayed gently, she started singing the words while staring into his eyes and he realized that once he finally got her there, he wasn’t sure he’d ever let her out of his bed.

  She kissed him when the song ended and acted as if they were the only two people in the room. That she was finished giving interviews was quickly obvious. Her only plan for the rest of the evening was to dance and talk with him and she instructed the deejay to play slow songs.

  Isaiah held her, talked softly to her, listened to her sing songs she loved, and it was the only time he’d felt the focus of a woman in such a way – before or since the accident that took his looks.

  An hour later, he realized that he’d been slowly taking more and more of her weight. It seemed she didn’t notice it happening until he lifted her face and stared into her eyes. “Tired?”

  She nodded and straightened. “You relaxed me and suddenly I’m exhausted.” The way she rubbed her eyes was adorable. “It just washed over me. Will you take me home?”

  He nodded and led her across the room to say goodnight to their respective siblings. Madeline smiled as they approached. “Have you had enough, Kayla?”

  “I’m done, Linn. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

  “After the way you’ve been pushing yourself, I’m shocked you lasted this long. You had excellent company or you’d have been curled up under the table hours ago.”

  Grinning, Kayla winked. “It was just that one time.” Going to one knee, she hugged her sister. “You booked a room?” Madeline nodded. “Don’t stay too much longer. You look like you’re going to fall down.” To Ezra, she requested, “Can you make sure she gets upstairs safely? There are so many people here we don’t know.”

  “I will, Mikayla.”

  Pressing her cheek to her twin’s, she said, “I can’t wait until the family sees what you did, Linny.”

  “Thank you for bringing it to life for me.”

  “I’m glad to be part of your dream. For as long as you need me.”

  Madeline cupped her face and they stared at each other for a long moment. “You’ve helped each of us, Mikayla. It’s time for you to chase your own dream now.”

  “You know mine.” She shrugged. “Silly to most people, I guess.”

  Isaiah settled into a chair beside them and tilted his head. “Your dream isn’t to be an actress?”

  “No. I like it and I’ll help Linny…but no, that’s not my dream.”

  He’d never wanted to know something about someone else so badly in his life. “What’s your dream, Mikayla?”

  “I can’t tell you yet.”

  She glanced down at her hands and Linn lifted her face with her finger beneath her chin. “Your dream is not silly. You’ve done so much to help all of us and now it’s your turn.” Her twin kissed her forehead and murmured, “When you’re overtired, you doubt yourself. Rest, Kayla.”

  Meeting Isaiah’s eyes, she added, “She needs to sleep badly. Her nerves, her perfectionist personality, have kept her awake for days. Once she gets some sleep, she’ll be her usual vibrant self.”

  “I’ll make certain.”

  “Thank you…for many things.”

  “You’re welcome.” His smile was gentle. “Thank you for picking our theater.” To his brother, he said, “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Ezra nodded.

  Bending, Isaiah slipped his arms around Mikayla and lifted her to her feet. Refusing to pause for anyone who wanted her time, he walked straight through the room and the lobby, to the street. Hailing a cab with a sharp whistle, he hustled her inside.

  “Isaiah?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can I go home with you?”

  “I’d already planned on it.” He gave the cabby the address and pulled her to his side. “Rest.”

  She nodded and slumped against him, almost instantly asleep. Soon, they pulled onto the narrow residential street where he and his brother were raised. The brownstone had been a true sanctuary many times in his life.

  People who knew New York would have instantly recognized the wealth of the area but Kayla was barely coherent. He pulled her from the cab and supported her carefully as he paid the driver.

  Lifting her in his arms, she wrapped around him. He carried her up the steps, unlocked the door, and took her into the home where he hoped she would always feel welcome.

  Once the locks engaged, he carried her upstairs and set her on her feet beside his huge bed. He’d had it custom made when he passed six-four and kept growing.

  Mikayla yawned and he kissed her forehead. On his knees, he removed her boots before slowly stripping her out of the remainder of her clothing.

  When she was naked and swaying, he dropped a soft t-shirt over her body and tucked her beneath the thick covers. She was asleep before he’d stripped out of his clothes and climbed in beside her.

  Turning off the bedside lamp, he spooned around her and she backed up to seal herself to as much of him as she could. Softly, she said, “I love how warm you are…so warm, inside and out.”

  “Sleep, Mikayla. As long as you need to, just sleep.”

  Letting himself fully relax with a woman in his bed for the first time in…well, ever, Isaiah dropped to sleep like a stone in a deep pond.

  His last thought was what a difference a day could make in a man’s life.

  Chapter Eleven

  When dawn light streamed through the windows on either side of the headboard, Isaiah opened his eyes and met Mikayla’s pretty green ones staring back at him. She curled around him, her head on his bicep.

  “Hi…good morning.” Her smile was embarrassed. “I’m sorry I fell asleep. What a hot ticket, huh?”

  “You were wiped out.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “How long have you been awake?”

  “A little while. I didn’t want to wake you. This is the biggest bed I’ve ever seen in my life.” She traced his face. “The sunlight loves you.”

  “You slay me.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re spectacular in every light.” The smile she gave him was shy. “Let’s shower and I’ll make you breakfast.”

  “Please tell me you have an extra toothbrush. It’s the only thing in the world I truly need at this moment in time. I can’t kiss you properly without it.”

  Isaiah laughed and got out of bed. “I happen to have several extras. Ezra used to crash here if he drank too much.” He dragged her to the edge of the mattress by her ankles and lifted her in his arms. She instantly wrapped around him and it made him grin. “You like to be carried.”

  “No one has ever carried me before. You make me feel petite. I like it.”

  Lifting one hand, he stroked his fingers through her hair. Coiling her arms around his neck slowly, she sighed happily before laying her head on his shoulder. He carried her to the bathroom and found a new toothbrush in his medicine cabinet.

  Taking it gratefully, she kissed his neck where his scar snaked down and nuzzled his bisected cheek before sliding to the floor.

  No one usually touched him, much less his scar. Mikayla did so constantly and he knew she was reassuring him that he was the only one of the two of them who considered it an issue.

  Isaiah watched as she brushed her teeth, fascinated by the fact that she was standing in his house doing something so ordinary. Glancing up at him in the mirror, she made a barking noise. He blinked.

  “Cujo…get it?” He cracked up while she spit and rinsed. “My humor is bizarre.”

  “I enjoy it.” Planting a kiss on her forehead, he went into the other bathroom down the hall to pee. When he walked back in the room, the shower was running and she was stripping her clothing away.

  “Besides Reynold, we have three other brothers. Consider it safe to pee in front of me. My brothers will literally pee anywhere. You’ll meet them opening night. They’ll be sure to embarrass me.”

  He brushed his teeth as she stepped naked under the spray and soaked her hair, slicking the water back from her hairline. She used the aver
age products he had and looked up at him watching her through the clear glass shower door.

  “You’re not coming in?”

  “I was at the same time trying to give you privacy and captivated by the view of you naked and wet in my bathroom, Mikayla. It didn’t seem real.”

  “I don’t need privacy unless I’m on my little friend since I hate that fucker. You’re safe for the next couple weeks and welcome to get closer to the view.”

  She opened the door and struck a dramatic pose. He was thankful to have the control of a grown man because his body went into full chaos at the sight. Shoving down his boxer briefs, he walked across the room. She put her hand on his chest and took him in slowly before stepping aside so he could get in.

  “I needed a minute. You are so fucking gorgeous naked, Isaiah.”

  That a sweet young woman had the power to make him blush continued to fascinate him.

  She slid her palms up his slick chest and around his neck. “I’m ashamed to say I thought your eyes were black. Actually, they’re dark brown. Like chocolate. I’d commit a felony for your lashes.” His laughter boomed in the small space and she grinned.

  Isaiah turned her to face the wall and lifted her arms above her head as he nudged her feet apart. “Stay like that, Mikayla.”

  Soaping a washcloth, he washed every inch of her body. After all the lather rinsed away, he traced his fingers down the cleft of her ass to her pussy and massaged gently. When she started to lower her arms, he went still.

  “Hands back where they were,” he said at her ear.

  She obeyed instantly, resting her forehead on the cool tile, and he rubbed over her clit. He enjoyed how her ass tightened in response to each stroke.

  “Stay here.”

  He left the bathroom and returned rolling on a condom. Lifting her leg, he balanced her foot on the built-in step. Stroking into her pussy with two fingers from behind, she gasped and pushed back. He stopped moving instantly and she returned to the same position.

  “Very good, Mikayla.”

  The strokes resumed, picking up in tempo as his other hand slipped around over her hip and lower abdomen, skating across her clit. Her orgasm built quickly.

  “Don’t come yet, Mikayla. Let it climb.”

  With a small whimper, she locked her body down and fought the need. Her breathing was shallow and fast. He kissed her shoulder, waiting until her body drew taut like a bow with her need for release.

  “Are you ready?” She nodded with a moan. “Good. Come for me, pretty girl.”

  He thrust his fingers into her firmly and pressed against her clit in tight circles. Her body spasmed hard and she rocked back from the wall, slamming into his chest.

  “Yes, oh yes. I want you, I need you inside me.” Her legs shook as he stroked her down.

  Nuzzling her neck, he asked, “You’re sure? Don’t you want to come again? I’d love to taste you, lap up the slickness coating my fingers right now.”

  “I want your cock, Isaiah. Please. I need it.”

  He lifted and turned her, keeping her back to him, and put her feet on the bench with her knees together. The position was one of supplication but he doubted she would realize.

  Isaiah had no desire to be her Dom, despite dabbling in the lifestyle once upon a time. Nor did he expect her to be his submissive. He wanted to show her possibilities available to her with a man who respected her strength and didn’t abuse the fact that he was stronger still.

  Supporting her full weight with an arm across her torso, he positioned himself at her pussy and surged into her in one stroke, the wet walls working to expand to him as her cervix cupped the head.

  Her hands rested on his forearm. “I’m so full like this. More.”

  Pushing her chest to the tops of her thighs so that she was in a crouch on the front balls of her feet, he wrapped his arms around her entire body and clasped his hands across her knees. Then he set a rhythm guaranteed to work his cock across every sensitive ridge in her pussy.

  “You’re so tight and hot around me.” Her short nails dug into the backs of his. Ten strokes, twenty, and her body began to tremble violently.

  “I-I’m coming. So hard, please don’t stop. Harder…I want your imprint on me.”

  He changing the angle of his thrusts and fucked her with greater force. Her body went rigid and she screamed his name. Pushing her wet hair to one side, he lightly gripped the muscle at her shoulder with his teeth and fucked her through the climax.

  “More, Isaiah. Please.”

  He pulled out, turned her around, and carried her from the shower to his bed. Both of them were wet and he didn’t care. Laying her on her back, he remained standing. Pulling her forward roughly until her ass was at the edge, he lifted her hips high, positioned himself again, and slammed himself balls-deep.

  Mikayla moved her legs around until her feet were over his shoulders. Bending, he held his weight on one arm and rested the other beside her head. Staring into her eyes, he fucked down into her body with strength he’d always held in tight check.

  She reached up between them and cupped his face with a smile. “I think your cock is in my ribs.”

  Sweat mixed with water ran down his face and chest. Jaw clenched, he commanded, “Play with your nipples and get them ready for me. I love to watch you do that and I want to suck them. Everything about you makes my mouth water.”

  Rolling them between her fingers and thumbs, she pulled them away from her body until they were achingly hard and distended. Her eyes never left his.

  “I want to feel your mouth on me.”

  The offering of her breasts in her palms was impossible to deny. He lowered her legs and pulled back to take the pink tips between his lips in turns, sucking hard and raking his teeth over them as he pulled them out and let them go.

  Her fingers were in his hair, holding him to her. “Isaiah. Take everything you need…you give me so much.”

  Crawling up and moving them further onto the bed, he took possession of her mouth as he returned to a pussy that throbbed hotly around him. She clamped around his cock like a vice and he wanted to watch her on top. Rolling to his back, carrying her with him, he watched as she started to ride.

  “You’re pussy is sucking at me, trying to keep me deep.”

  “Best place for you to be,” she replied breathlessly.

  She worked back and up, forward and down, maintaining a hard and fast rhythm over him while he played with her breasts. One of his hands drifted down to trace his thumb over her swollen clit and she climaxed, wrapping her hands around his raised knees behind her and riding him fiercely through her orgasm.

  The sight of her coming, her body completely open and exposed to him, drove him over the edge. He met her thrusts, their bodies colliding until he came, his hands on her thighs, her name roaring from his chest. The veins of his neck and shoulders stood out sharply with the force of the orgasm as it crashed through his body like a train.

  She returned to herself and dropped over him, her hands on either side of his head. She rode him through every moment of ecstasy, staring into his eyes.

  “I want every drop, Isaiah. Give it all to me.” Holding her hips, meeting her stare, he continued to stroke up into her until he was empty. A hard shudder worked through his body and she collapsed over his chest. “I’m never going to get enough. I can see it already.”

  “You make me come so hard. Unlike anything I’ve experienced.”

  He stroked his hands through her damp hair and over her back, gently cupping and squeezing her ass before reversing and doing it again. Her breath was warm on the skin of his pec and one of her hands played with strands of his hair.

  “I’ve never had more than one orgasm with someone, sometimes not even one. It was difficult for me and I thought there might be something wrong with my body. Other women talked about sex in ways I didn’t understand. I figured I wasn’t wired the same. I guess I didn’t have the chemistry I needed to make it a life-changing event the way other people
described it. You are a life-changing event.”

  “If my brain was firing properly, I’d be eloquent. Suffice it to say, I love making you come.”

  Chuckling, she raised her upper body and slowly pulled herself off him. Jumping off the bed, she went in the bathroom and got the damp washcloth from their shower. Kneeling beside him on the bed, she stripped away the condom and cleaned him. He stared at her in shock.

  “What? Should I not do this? I have no idea.”

  He honestly didn’t know what to say.

  She went back to the bathroom to clean up before returning with a towel, climbing in bed, and settling on her knees beside his torso.

  After she made a few passes over her wet hair, she dried them both before throwing the towel on the floor.

  Starting at his hair, she examined every inch of him, learning his body as she massaged him and planted kisses on his skin. While she kneaded muscles and stroked over joints, she talked.

  It was clear immediately that he’d drastically underestimated Mikayla Johannson.

  Chapter Twelve

  Mikayla could see by the tension on Isaiah’s face that he was overthinking things. She smiled and concentrated on touching him. “You think I’m going to run off with some androgynous actor to LA or some such thing and rip your heart to shreds. That I have no idea what I’m getting into.”

  There was a crease between his eyes and the skin around his mouth was tight. Being a man, she knew he had no intention of confessing to vulnerability.

  Her mother had always said to start something as you intend to go on. Her daddy always instructed his girls to take the bull by the horns. Both mottos would serve her well.

  Gliding her hands over his magnificent body, she kept her eyes on his and told him her story. It would help him understand.

  “When I was fourteen, I fell in love with my childhood friend and adored him as only a teenage girl can. He took my virginity, sloppily, when I was sixteen. When I was eighteen, I walked into his barn and saw him getting a blowjob from a cheerleader at our school. I questioned everything about myself.”