by N. Kognytao
Everyone felt nervousness seep into their bones at his words.
“We’re lacking an enormous amount of energy,” Mr. Gracie continued. “I know it’s hot and I know that it’s only the first real run-through, but you all seem disinterested in your performances. I cannot allow this quality of work to be put on stage for an audience. I hope that I will see more energy from all of you tomorrow. We will not be stopping tomorrow. We will run on real time, so be sure you’re ready. I want more energy than what I saw today.”
The musicians looked sheepishly to the stage, embarrassed by the mild scolding.
“Our roster is a little smaller this year,” he continued. “We had three artists retire, and 4U and Miss Leeta Jones are both abroad. I need all of you to put everything you have into this performance. You are not amateurs. You know how to capture an audience. I was not captured.”
He sighed and shook his head.
“In order to fill some of the vacancies in the roster, the marketing team has decided to put a special event in the concert. As we all know, 4U and Miss Jones are not performing, so we have launched a poll to decide who will perform two songs as Miss Jones and who will perform two songs as 4U in parody performances.”
Everyone was surprised at the announcement and straightened, smiling.
“These are two very big personalities, as you know, so we want whoever wins the poll to play up everything they can. We want it to be a parody, but also a serious performance.” He held up his hand to stop everyone from calling out their questions. “Everyone performing is on the poll. However, this year, we’re also going to do a gender cross. That means that the men are in the poll for Miss Jones while the women are in the poll for 4U. The marketing department has created promotional videos for the fans to watch if they do not know your work as well,” he briefly glanced at Leah, “and they will decide in a flash poll for the next forty-eight hours. I will announce who has won at dress rehearsal and those two individuals will practice in the next few days.”
Even Leah was excited by the idea.
“Alright, we’re going to push back rehearsal tomorrow to eight, so it will be dark and we can get a better sense of the lights,” Mr. Gracie finished. “Everyone come here tomorrow with lots of energy and make sure you show me the professional artists I know you all are. Alright?”
They all called affirmatives and he nodded once.
“Alright. Everyone go home and get some rest.”
* * *
Leah was tired and overwhelmed as she knocked on Braydon’s door. She was greeted by the sight of him in her normal long-sleeved sweater, his hair a charming mess once again—she had started to realize that it was always messy because it was a habit of his when he was writing to scratch at his head. She smiled when she saw him, stepping inside the loft and wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him before he even had time to close the door. Their lips lingered, leaving them both light-headed at the tenderness.
When they parted, he closed the door, smiling.
“Seems like you’re pretty nervous about the Outdoor Show,” he noted, finally closing the door behind Leah.
“Getting more nervous,” she admitted, glancing in the kitchen to see foil-covered plates of their dinner. “I hope you have something strong to drink with that,” she noted, pointing playfully.
He motioned her over and pulled aside one of the cabinet doors under the counter to reveal a surprisingly large selection of alcohol.
“Pick your poison.”
Over dinner, Leah explained that Mr. Gracie was not pleased with the energy of the performance and decided to have the public pick someone to impersonate the two top solo artists in the label. Braydon listened intently, knowing that Leah really had nothing to worry about, but he also knew that, from Leah’s position, everything about her future was riding on whatever happened at the Outdoor Show.
“I just was floored when he said that he had some sort of promotional videos for all of us,” Leah murmured. “And that I’m even on this poll, and for 4U because they want it to be a gender cross. I know I’ve done a few club performances, and I know they’ve done well, but…I don’t know. Maybe it’s just this whole weird rivalry with Glaring Nights, or maybe it’s because 4U is my idol, but…I really want to win that poll and perform as 4U.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting that,” Braydon assured.
“But I don’t think I should, because then it will make things worse with Hayden.”
“Let Tim handle Hayden’s behavior toward you,” he said strongly, swirling the wine around in his glass. “The truth is, if you’re better than Hayden, then you’re better than him. It’s just fact. It is his problem if he can’t handle that. If he causes a problem in the company, believe me, Tim will have no problem getting rid of him.”
“That’s just it, I don’t want to cause problems.”
“Then you’re in the wrong business,” Braydon said. “Look, you’re not purposely going out of your way to destroy Glaring Nights. Hayden is being immature. It’s not you, it’s him. You are not causing problems. And if Hayden pushes Tim hard enough, believe me, he’s going to feel it.” He lifted the glass to his mouth, looking away from Leah as he added under his breath, “Tim basically runs the whole damn universe…”
Leah sighed, pushing the rest of her dinner around on her plate, her appetite minimal.
“I am just feeling really overwhelmed with everything, I think…”
He looked her over, noting her tense shoulders and her drawn expression, as well as the emptiness of her glass and the large portion of food remaining on her plate.
“I want to see this promo video,” he said suddenly.
As he got up and went to his laptop, Leah nearly leapt out of her seat.
“Wait, no!” she protested.
“Have you seen it?”
“…no.”
“Then get over here and let’s see what they put together for you.”
“I don’t know if I can watch it.”
“It will be fine,” Braydon assured, taking her hand and guiding her to sit next to him as he went to the RM website on the laptop on the coffee table. Plastered all over the front page was a call to vote for the singer to impersonate the two singers who would be absent from the Outdoor Show.
Braydon clicked on the video next to Leah’s name.
The back track for her digital single began playing and Leah watched with a strange sense of disconnect as silent clips of her performing in clubs as well as silly videos from behind-the-scenes at her photoshoots and interviews played to the fifteen-second instrumental to her song.
When the clip ended, Braydon submitted his vote for her on the website, smiling gently as he turned to her.
“You can’t worry too much about it,” he said quietly. “This is your first big stage. It’s okay if you take it a little slower. You can’t get so swept up that you forget who you are and what makes you an artist.”
“I don’t want to forget that,” she agreed, her voice strained. “But how do I not get swept up when this is everything that I want?”
“You remember where you started,” he said, tenderly brushing some stray hairs from her temple away from her face as she turned to face him. “Maybe tomorrow, before rehearsal, you should go spend some time with your family. Just get back to your roots. Go back to where it all started.”
She stared at his bright eyes, a small smile spreading across her face.
“Yeah, maybe…” she murmured. “But,” she shook her head and looked back at her wringing hands, “there is still a lot that’s rough with the performance. I need—”
Braydon’s hands turned her face and he pressed his lips to hers, effectively silencing her.
When he backed away, he pressed his fingers into her temples, shaking his head. “You’re in here too much.” Placing one finger on her lips, a mischievous half-smile took over his face. “Wait here.”
He briefly disappeared as Leah watched him enter the bedroom.
When he was out of sight, her eyes went back to the poll on the front page of the RM website. With a small groan of frustration and anxiety, she closed the lid on the laptop.
Braydon returned quickly with a smile, holding a thick red scarf.
“What’s that?”
“That’s for you,” he said, walking back to the couch and standing in front of her. Winding the scarf around both hands, he placed it around the back of Leah’s neck and pulled her close, nearly kissing her.
“Do you trust me?”
Leah hesitated, not because she did not trust him, but because she did not know why he was suddenly asking.
“Yes.”
He removed the scar from the back of her neck and pressed it over her eyes, tying it behind her head as she let out a confused laugh.
“Wait…”
He pressed a finger to her lips.
“No speaking,” he murmured, his breath close enough to ghost over Leah’s cheek. She shivered at the hushed tone. “Trust me.”
With a tender kiss to her lips, Braydon pushed her down to the couch, picking her legs up and placing them on the sofa as well.
She had never been blindfolded before, and when she opened her eyes, she could only see red as the light behind the fabric broke through the gaps between the fibers. It was easier to keep her eyes closed.
Braydon’s hands took Leah’s face and he kissed her as both hands drifted down her body to the hem of her shirt. He shimmied the fabric up her torso until it was removed completely. She was about to ask if they were going to go into the bedroom rather than try to make love on the narrow couch, but when his hands passed over her breasts, taking the clasp and unhooking it to free them, she forewent the question, deciding she was willing to try anything once.
Once she was naked from the waist up, Braydon’s fingers traced gentle patterns over her skin, descending her torso until he reached the waistband of her pants. Sliding them slowly down her legs, Leah could feel excitement building, wondering what the author was planning.
Even as she lay, naked and vulnerable on the couch, her excitement was grew steadily.
Without being able to see where Braydon was going to put his hands, she was startled when both palms pressed over her breasts, rubbing gentle, soothing patterns over her skin before his fingers trailed downward, tracing patterns over her ribs, causing goosebumps to rise in their wake. He moved his fingers over every rib, every ripple of muscle, every inch of soft skin, and while Leah could not see it, she knew the writer’s eyes were following the same trails.
Braydon watched the way the singer’s ribs expanded and contracted as she breathed, the way her chest rose and fell, the way she moved into every touch as his hands started new trails. He reveled in seeing the way she reacted to him, chasing his touch, obediently following his order not to speak.
He leaned over her, pressing a fleeting kiss to her lips, leaving a teasing tingle on her lips. She tried to follow him, but he backed away, smirking at her covered eyes.
His mouth descended to her neck, licking and kissing tantalizing paths over her skin. She shivered at the contact, her hands wrapping around his back, one hand tangling in his hair as his mouth showered attention to her sensitive nipples. Her nails dug into the fabric over his shoulder, spurring him on as his tongue lapped and teased at the hardened nub.
He backed away suddenly, surprising her as her hands slipped away from him.
“Braydon—”
His finger was over her mouth in an instant, reminding her of the rule.
To keep her silent, he leaned over her once more, pressing his tongue between Lydia’s parted lips and kissing her deeply. As he kissed Leah, he reached between them, unzipping the hoodie he wore and leaving it open so their chests could touch one another. She gasped at the contact and fisted the fabric, holding him tight as they kissed.
The kiss left her breathless as he parted their mouths his lips barely tracing over her cheek as he leaned to her ear.
“Turn over,” he whispered.
Hesitant, yet eager, Leah complied, rolling over and settling on her stomach on the couch.
Braydon’s legs went to either side of her thighs as he leaned over her and pressed his fingers deep into the tense muscles of her shoulders. She smiled, relaxing as the writer lovingly worked out all the knots and lulled her into relaxation.
His hands moved from her shoulders to her lower back and finally to her buttocks. She was a little surprised, but more than Braydon’s touch, she was shocked at the immediate bolt of pleasure that rocketed through her. She lifted her head and turned to look over her shoulder, but it was no use with the scarf over her eyes.
Braydon continued to knead her buttocks, his thumbs pressing closer and closer to the juncture of her thighs as they descended. Soon, her muscles were tense and trembling, despite the massage. She could feel the wetness gathering between her legs as she moved minutely against the couch, imagining that Braydon was staring at her swelling womanhood as she began to get wet.
Leah’s body was warm and her attention was focused entirely on the feelings gathering between her legs. As the author’s hands moved toward her thighs, Leah longed for him to touch her, to press his fingers and massage her inside with the same gentle attention until she could no longer stand it. She let out a frustrated groan and her hips began moving even more at the mere thought.
However, Braydon did not comply. He moved past her wet lips to her thighs, continuing the massage, his eyes watching the way Leah’s hips pressed into the couch with growing urgency, seeking any friction she could.
When Braydon moved to Leah’s calves, he could hear her labored breathing and gentle moans. He was trying not to rush the massage, but he was already hard against the front of his pants, and he felt himself lose composure as he watched Leah slowly unravel from his touch.
Testing her arousal, he ran his hands in a sweeping motion from her calves up to the back of her thighs and over her buttocks before going back down again. After two passes, Leah moaned and pulled her hands under her, lifting her hips and pushing them back, raising her ass into the air as she whined.
“Please…” she begged.
Braydon forgot all about the massage. He straightened, one knee resting on the couch while his other foot went to the floor, allowing him to stand. He ran his fingers over her trembling buttocks, smiling at the sight as Leah moved eagerly, desperate for more.
“Please, what?” he whispered.
Leah moaned, pushing her hips back until she felt them brush with the front of his pants. She could feel the outline of his erection and her moan distorted her second plea. There was a part of her that was flattered that he was that hard after massaging her. It made her feel sexy and powerful in a way she did not know she could feel. However, the bigger part of her mind was focused on the feeling of him against her, and she longed to have him inside.
“I…I need…”
Braydon leaned over Lydia, one hand running up her back to her neck, where he swept the hair away from her ear, allowing him to lean even closer, his breath tickling hypersensitive skin.
“What do you want?” he whispered. “I won’t know unless you say it.”
Leah was sure she was about to lose her mind. She could not stand the teasing any longer. She needed to feel him. With a half-sob, half-whine, she pushed her hips back again, grinding against his pelvis.
“Fuck me,” she begged. “Please…please, fuck me!”
Braydon smiled against her skin, pressing a light kiss to her cheek and straightening as one hand left her back to extract a condom from his back pocket.
She heard the package open and her entire body reacted. Her legs began to shake as she continue to circle her hips, somehow resisting the urge to reach down and touch herself as he slipped the condom on his erection.
He began rubbing his cock between her legs, causing her to let out a sob, trying to dip her hips down, inviting him to enter.
“You want me to fuck you?” he teased, both han
ds taking her hips, controlling her movement so he could continue to tease her. Leah’s nails scraped along the fabric of the couch, scrambling for purchase, trying to move despite the vice grip around her hips.
“Yes!” she cried. “Oh, God, please…please fuck me…”
Braydon lined up the head of his cock to the wet lips between her legs and she stilled.
Slowly, agonizingly, he pushed inside her, his hands holding her hips secure enough to keep her from pushing back against him, causing the feeling of him filling her to be long, torturous, and sublime. It seemed as though he went even deeper than usual, pushing in so slowly that she could feel every part of him inside her.
When his pelvis came into contact with her buttocks, she shuddered, her legs shaking almost uncontrollably as her body tightened around him. He smiled, his thumbs brushing over her hip bones, as if soothing her as she moaned openly.
“Good girl,” he said with a smile.
He withdrew to the tip before plowing back in with enough force to knock the breath out of her. She was thankful for him holding her hips, sure that she would not be able to bear up to the thrusting without his help. Each push caused her to let out a loud moan. She had no questions about neighbors or just how loud her voice was. Everything around them disappeared as the same perfect feeling consumed her. Nothing else in the world existed. Everything was complete when they were joined together, their bodies molding together in an exquisite fit.
She pushed her hands against the arm of the sofa, trying to brace herself as his hips snapped forward again and again, causing her eyes to roll around in their sockets behind the scarf as the pleasure built within her to heights that had her nearly going numb from overstimulation.
Leah’s moans turned into near-cries as she raised up to push back against his thrusting. He was groaning behind her, clearly also close to completion.
