SOLO

by Bladon, Deborah

  What. The. Fuck.

  I scrub my hand over the back of my neck. Libby wants to quit the show? That has to be because of what happened between us. "She asked you about getting out of her contract?"

  "Not point blank or anything." She crosses one leg over the other. "She wants me to put in a good word with a friend who is handling the auditions for another show."

  "What show?"

  "It's for Falling Choices. They're going to hold auditions for the touring company. I actually think Libby has a good chance of getting a lead." For good measure she adds," I have a friend there I can talk to about getting her in."

  "No," I say without thinking. "I'll handle it."

  I will handle it. This audition can change everything. There's no way in hell I'm letting anyone deal with this but me.

  Chapter 27

  Libby

  "You think you can ignore me and I won't hunt you down."

  The words echo through my body. I don’t turn around. I don’t need to. I know his voice. I know the low grumble that's woven into the syllable of the words. I know the sound of his need as it leaves his lips. I heard it when he took me to his condo on Central Park West and fucked me three nights ago.

  "You said you'd keep it private." I push my lips to my shoulder, directing the words back at him. "This is public. You need to leave."

  His response is a hand on my hip. He thrusts his body into me, his cock angling between the cheeks of my ass. It's covered in a dress so thin that he can feel every contour and curve. "You want to be fucked."

  "You fucked me already," I whimper the words without the intention. My body instinctively reacts to his voice, his touch and the promise of being taken by him again.

  His breath is hot on my neck. "I want to fuck you again, Libby."

  "You can't be here." I press my hands flat against the display case. "I'm working."

  He pulls on the hem of my dress. "I'm going to slide my fingers into your tight, wet cunt right here and right now."

  I lunge forward, not as much from the promise of the words but the ache in my sex. "No, Alec. We can't."

  His hand inches higher and I fall back into him from the burden of my desire. It's there. It's always there, pulling me down. It's a weight within me that can't be satiated by my own hand. I've tried in desperation for days to find the same pleasure that he found. I've rubbed my fingers through my folds while I've been in bed at night, imagining his glorious tongue racing over my pussy. I've pushed two fingers into my channel hoping to capture the intensity that was there when he slid his cock into me, stretching me to my limits. It was futile and frustrating. I need what only he can give me.

  "Lock the door, Libby." His fingers fly past my face towards a large clock on the wall. "It's eight. The store is closed."

  I move quickly, pulling the deadbolt into place. I turn off the overhead lights so curious shoppers won't peek in hoping to get a glimpse of the beautiful creations that the store is known for.

  He's there the instant I twist around, his lips on mine. I moan into the kiss as he thrusts his lush tongue into my mouth.

  "I can't stop this, Libby." His hands are under my dress, seeking my core.

  I push my legs apart, wanting desperately to feel any touch he's offering to me. "Don’t stop."

  He rips my panties from me in one fierce movement. His hand covers my sex pressing into it. The pressure is enough to bring me to my knees, but he holds steadfast to my body, pushing me into the wall. "I've thought about your greedy cunt for days, Libby."

  "No." The words speak of a need I don't want to have. It's there. I feel it and he sees it, but it's too much.

  "No?" His lips run over my cheek. "No, your cunt isn't hungry for me?"

  I shake my head, not wanting to give voice to the words. I reach for his pants, wanting to free his cock. He wants me just as much as I want him. I'm going to prove it to him.

  "When I was buried inside your body, Libby," he begins as his hands latch onto mine pulling them into his chest. "You were stroking me from within. You were so wet, so needy. You were clenching me, pulling out everything I had to give to you."

  "Stop," I whisper with no conviction. "I'm not like that."

  "What are you like?" His voice is a growl from deep within. "You've been thinking about me since I took you home."

  I breathe in the scent of his skin. It's strong and male. The cologne he wears is intoxicating. "I thought about you," I confess.

  "You fucked yourself with these fingers." He pulls my hand to his lips. "Just like you did at the restaurant."

  I stare at his mouth, watching my fingers dive inside. "I did."

  "You'll never be able to touch yourself the way I do." He pulls my hand down to my thigh. "You'll never be able to find the right pressure, or glide over your swollen little clit the same way I do."

  "I can," I challenge. This man doesn't know my body better than I do.

  His lips float over mine. "No. You can't."

  My head falls back against the wall as he pushes two fingers into me. "Yes," I whisper. "Yes."

  "You're already so ready." He pulls his thumb over my clit. "You're swollen. It's not going to take much until you come all over my hand."

  I want to breathe. I want to feel. I want to give myself to this pleasure. "I'm close."

  "I know." His lips claim mine as he applies the slightest pressure to my clit sending me racing into the clutches of an intense climax.

  Chapter 28

  Alec

  "Can you stay with me tonight?"

  Fuck my life all to hell. Seriously. Fuck it all.

  "Your bed isn't big enough for the two of us." I whip my head to the side to look at her. She still has the post orgasmic glow in her eyes. She came so hard when I had her pressed against me in the store. Now, I'm sitting in the back seat with her, while Gabriel drives us to her place. That's where I have to leave her. It can't be any other way.

  She smiles slightly. "It's big enough."

  "There's no way in hell it is. You'd have to sleep on top of me." I chuckle at the thought, even though there's nothing in the world I wouldn't give right now to crawl into that bed with her.

  She pulls her hands through her hair, straightening it. "Can we stay at your place?"

  I've always dreaded hearing those words from a woman I'm fucking. It's different this time though. It's what I want too. The problem is that it can't happen tonight. It can't happen tomorrow night or next week. It can never fucking happen because my life is a goddamn mess.

  "I have an early meeting. I need to get up before dawn." The lie is too easy. That's because it came out under a veil of truth. I have a conference call with Hong Kong early, but I'll do it from home. My real home, not the condo I took her to on the Upper West Side.

  The rejection stings her. I see it when she turns to look out the window, her reflection in the car's window giving away the deep disappointment she's trying to mask beneath a weak smile.

  "We can have dinner together tomorrow." It's a weak offering. It's all I can give right now. I've never gotten to this point with a woman. They've tried to latch on and I've always run. I've been able to cut them off without a backwards glance but I can't with Libby. I have to figure this shit out.

  "I have plans with some of the cast tomorrow." She doesn’t turn to look at me.

  I can't stand the distance. After watching her come I need her to be close. I only have a few more minutes before we pull up the curb in front of her place. "Is it a celebration? Can I come?"

  Her head darts back, a small grin pulling at the corner of her beautiful mouth. "No. You're not invited."

  "Really?" I lift a brow. "Why not?"

  She licks her bottom lip. It's a thoughtless gesture but it wakes up my cock. The selfish part of me wanted to push her to her knees back at the store so she could blow me. I've been craving the softness of her mouth since she took me at the condo. I need it again. I have to have it soon.

  "It's not for investors." She p
ulls air quotes around the phrase. "It's for the common folks."

  "You're a common folk?" I reach out to touch her leg. "You're not common."

  She inches closer to me, allowing me the room I need to move my hand closer to her core. "What am I then?"

  "You're perfect." I lean in, pulling my lips across hers. "You're everything, Libby."

  "I'm not." She pulls back to rest her head on my chest. "But I like that you think so."

  ***

  "We're doing auditions for the solo today. It's nice of you to make an appearance," Sharma says through gritted teeth as I step off the elevator.

  Christ, this woman can't stand me. "That's what you called me down here for?"

  She doesn't pull her gaze from the tablet she's holding. "You said we should leave the solo in, so I thought you'd want to be here to help choose the girl who gets it."

  Fuck. Just fuck.

  I haven't had a chance to talk to Libby about this yet. "Do they know there's a solo?"

  Her eyes rake over my face. "Of course they know."

  "Of course they know?" I parrot back. "What the hell does that mean?"

  She rolls her eyes at me. "They need to prepare so we gave them the song they'll be singing."

  Libby hasn’t said a word about this to me. Not one single word. I can't say I'm surprised. It's not like we've been focused on the show when we've been together. I can't exactly call her out into the hallway either. She made it clear that she wanted to keep this thing between us private. I'm not going to take that away from her. I'll just have to sit through these fucking auditions and figure out a way out of this.

  "We need to start." Sharma holds open the door to the rehearsal space.

  I close my eyes, straighten my jacket and walk into the room.

  "Ladies," Sharma claps her hands together as if she's trying to get the attention of a group of pre-schoolers. "We're ready to start. Mr. Hughes has graced us with his presence."

  I shoot her a look before taking a seat at the table. I know I need to look up. I know I need to find Libby's face.

  "Libby Duncan will go first." The stage manager calls from the left.

  I draw my eyes up from the table. She's there, standing in the middle of the open space. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail, her body wrapped in a simple blue dress. Her gaze is cast to the floor. I can tell from the way she's clutching her hands together that she's nervous.

  Look at me, Libby. Christ, just look at me.

  As the music starts, her beautiful, warm voice fills the room. I pull my hand to my chest. I lean forward and I stare straight into her eyes as she captivates the entire room.

  Chapter 29

  Libby

  I'm smart. I finished high school before everyone else that I went to grade school with. I was more than a year ahead of them. I went to college early. I graduated at the top of my class. I've always been book smart. I'm sure as hell not smart when it comes to men.

  Alec Hughes neglected to tell me about the auditions for the solo. I thought I knew why. I thought he had nothing to do with it. When Sharma announced that there would be a solo, she explained to us that it was at the insistence of the writers. I wanted to get it on my own. I didn't want his influence to sway anyone. I thought I could have my solo and Alec too so I didn't mention it to him. I didn't want him to call Sharma and insist I get the part.

  I had rehearsed the song over and over again, on the subway, in the store and in my room. I was prepared, I was ready and then he walked into the rehearsal hall. I didn't look at him until I was already singing. It broke me. Not because I was so completely overwhelmed with his presence but because I was surprised he was there. He never gave me a warning he'd be sitting at that table. We never discussed it.

  "I still can't believe I got the solo." Claudia reaches to hug me before she sits across from me in the café. "Can you believe it, Lib?"

  I can't. I can't fucking believe it. I know I told Alec that I didn’t want a solo. I know I swore up and down that it would put a target on my back and that I'd be known from this day forward as this season's piece of ass, but once it became a reality, I wanted it. I really wanted it and it's tearing me apart that I didn’t get it. "You deserve it." I don't know if I believe the words, but the decision is done.

  "Alec Hughes couldn’t take his eyes off of you." She slides a cup of coffee across the table towards me. "I thought you'd get it for sure."

  Me too. I really did and not just because Alec was part of the group who made the final decision. I thought it was because I was the best. "You did a really good job, Claudia."

  "Thanks." She leans back in the wooden chair crossing her long legs. "My parents are going to fly out for opening night."

  If it would have been anyone else, it wouldn’t sting this much, right? Why does it have to be one of my closest friends? I'm going to have to listen to her talk about it over and over again. I'm not a jealous person. I don't tie myself up in knots if people have nicer things than I do. I don't let it weigh me down if someone is happier, but this. This is the one thing I truly wanted and now I'll never have it.

  "When they get here, do you want to come over to my place for dinner?" She's on cloud nine. "I really want them to meet you. I've talked non-stop about you for the past year."

  I pull a smile from somewhere and flash it across my lips. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'd love to meet them."

  "I finally feel like everything's going my way." She claps her hands together and bounces to her feet. "I need to take off. I'll text you later, okay?"

  I nod as she turns on her heel, races out of the door with my dreams in her hand.

  ***

  "We should talk about the solo, Libby." I feel his hand on my elbow before the words hit me.

  I turn slowly. This isn't like the last time he showed up here at Whispers of Grace. This time the shop is bustling with customers. Jax and Ivy are upstairs. I'm not alone. I'm grateful for that. I don't know what I would say to him if it were just the two of us. "I'm working."

  He rubs his hand over his forehead. "Do you get a break?"

  "I don't." It's not a lie. I have a quick shift today and besides there isn’t any time for a break. Ivy's interview with a fashion magazine has upped the store's sales by more than double. We can’t keep up with the constant stream of people coming in to buy her designs. She's given me more shifts, which I'm grateful for. It keeps my mind off my sinking Broadway career.

  "Alec?" Jax's voice calls from the corner of the store. "Hey, Alec."

  His head spins towards Jax, which gives me the escape, I've been longing for. I move quickly towards a customer who launches into a sweet story about a ring he wants to buy for his wife.

  I try to focus on my work. I need to. I know it's just a matter of time before the store clears out, the closed sign is turned on and Alec and I discuss the solo.

  Chapter 30

  Alec

  Whenever I've been in this situation in the past, the decision has always been clear cut. Lie. When anyone comes to me with an idea and it's wrong, I'm not going to correct them if it means I come out looking like an asshole. Who would willingly do that to themselves? I would and I am. I have to.

  "I knew about the solo, Libby." I close my eyes. I close my fucking eyes because I'm a pussy. I can't stand the thought of seeing any disappointment on that gorgeous face. I can't. It's going to kill me if I know I'm the one who put it there.

  I open my eyes to see her sliding closer to her door. Gabriel has strict orders to drive us around the city until I tell him otherwise. I need to fix this. I need for Libby to understand why she didn't get the solo.

  "When did you know about it?"

  Christ, she can't even look at me. She's playing with a loose thread on her skirt. I've hurt her. I should have talked to her about this. I should have dragged her perfect ass out of that rehearsal hall to tell her what the fuck was going on. "I'm the one who suggested it to Sharma."

  "What?" Her hand bunches int
o a fist before it leaps to her chest. She's guarding her heart. I can see it.

  I put my hand on the seat between us. I want to reach out to her but I know she'll pull back. "It was weeks ago, Libby. Right after we met. I brought up a solo. I told Sharma to arrange it."

  Her chest heaves as she pulls in a breath. "You told her to arrange it because you wanted me to have it?"

  It sounds logical until you jump to this moment in time when the solo is a go and Libby's not the one belting out that song on opening night next week. "That was my intention back then."

  She shakes her head slightly. "I don’t get it, Alec."

  "I wanted you in my bed, Libby." That's the place this needs to start. It's when this twisted mess began. "I knew if I offered you a solo, you'd fuck me."

  "You're saying that the part was created just so you could fuck me?"

  I nod. "I'm a pathetic piece of shit, Libby. I would have done anything back then to get you to fuck me."

  A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "I'm not touching that."

  I reach for her hand and she doesn't resist. I cup it in my palm. "I fucked up. I should have talked to you about it. Sharma was handling it all. She said she'd hold auditions for it and I knew you wouldn't want me involved."

  "Why were you there that day? Why were you at the auditions then?"

  "I had no idea what was going on until she told me in the hallway before you started singing." I yank her hand to my mouth, brushing my lips across her fingers. "I wanted to pull you out of the room to give you a warning but there was no time, Libby. I wasn't expecting to be there either."

  She blows out a heady stream of air. "You sure go to a lot of trouble to get laid. I told you I didn't want anything."

  I'm ashamed. It's not something I've felt often. I own up to what I do with women. I'm the guy that buys pussy. I may not call up a prostitute but what I've done in the past is the same. When I want a woman, when I crave her, I'll find out what she wants and give it to her in exchange for her body. "I know, Libby."