Manage Me (Taven's Circus Book 1)

by Unknown

  It’s like an 80 pound bag of concrete was just dropped on my chest. He said he had a meeting yesterday but he didn’t say it was with Emily, granted I didn’t ask who it was with either. But he swore nothing was going on with them. Why would he meet up with her and not tell me?

  “Nell?” My father calls through the line.

  “Um, yeah I’m here. Sorry, I was thinking and trying to recall if I had heard anything.” I recover. “Uh…Jaden did say he had a meeting to go to yesterday but I didn’t ask who with.”

  “You’re their manager, you didn’t set up the meeting so why didn’t you ask?” He bites out.

  “We were in Portland, I assumed it was with friends or family from his hometown. I didn’t think I needed to track his every move.”

  “What if he was meeting with another record label? Jaden’s been bitching for a while wanting more freedom! Part of being the tour manager is protecting my investment in the band!” He’s full on screaming in the phone now and I have to hold it away from my ear but that doesn’t stop the tears of failure from falling.

  “I’m sorry. I will be sure not to let it happen again. He wasn’t gone for very long and if he wasn’t forth coming about telling me he was meeting up with Emily, I don’t think he would have told me he was going to meet up with another label while he was out either.”

  “Well figure it the fuck out. And is he dating Snow or not? She is my biggest client and if that fucking prick fucks her up, I will drop them from this label!”

  “Ryker and Jaden both said they were not dating. That is all I know at the moment. I will find out more and get back to you.” I say struggling to sound calm and collected.

  “I have millions wrapped up in Emily Snow and Toven’s Circus. This is your only chance Nell. If you fuck up, you will be done in this industry.” He spits down the line causing my heart to drop even more.

  “I understand.”

  “Call me when you know something useful.” He hangs up without saying good-bye. My father has always been tough on me but this was crushing and not just because him. That doubt in Jaden flares its ugly head again. I know if I try to talk to him about it he will just suck me back into his pile of shit lies.

  I need to see these pictures from their meeting. I need to see what they looked like together.

  Jaden’s bike conveniently sits a few feet away, keys in the ignition as we were going to take it on our day date into Seattle for the day. I jump on rev the engine, and take off. Not sure where I am going I just kick off and head towards all the tallest buildings.

  I pull over at the first gas station that I come to that has a little store attached to it. I feel like an idiot running in to buy a gossip magazine but I do it anyway, smuggling it out under my shirt like a stole it, I paid for it I swear. Jumping back on the bike I head for anywhere but here. I follow traffic through town that inevitably leads me to the waterfront. I find a place to park and making my way toward the water looking for a quiet place.

  I head down a pier that once housed several businesses that now all lay vacant with “Out of Business” signs. I make my way to the railing, looking out at the water taking a deep breath of the salty air. I try to work my mind around everything Jaden has shared with me over the last few days. All the connections that we have shared and memories we have made in such a short time. I do not believe that he is secretly seeing Emily but there is something he is hiding. I want to be upset but I want to give him a chance to explain too. I get pull the magazine from under my shirt. The cover has a crappy blurred photo of Emily leaning forward kissing Jaden. He isn’t touching her at all, in fact his hands and jaw are clinched tight. It looks like he was trying to step back from her. Flipping to the inside shows pictures of them inside of the coffee shop, sitting together at a small table. They appear to be talking about something. According to the article, one would think they were dry humping on the table, but Jaden’s body language screams his discomfort.

  My father’s threat looms and while I am sure that Jaden is not seeing Emily right now that doesn’t change the bazaar conversation that I had with her on the bus. Maybe that was why Jaden met with her, maybe he needed to sit her down and explain things to her. I don’t know, I need to talk to Jaden. I stand and start to turn around when two large arms wrap themselves around me pinning my arms to my side and freaking me the fuck out, but before I can ever react his lips reach my ear and I relax knowing its Jaden.

  “Are you all right, Nell?” He asks in a soft caring tone that makes tears prickle in my eyes for questioning him for even a second.

  “Yes, how did you know where I was?”

  “Kiki,” he starts and I cannot help the snort that escapes. He nips at my ear. “Kiki, has been my number one, until recently. She has the best GPS tracking device money can buy. All I had to do was look on my phone and follow.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry I took off on your bike.” I murmur.

  “It’s alright, I wish you had told me but it did answer that question from the other day.” He says brushing his warm nose against my chilled ear. “Where did you learn to ride?”

  “Ex-boyfriend taught me a thing or two. I kinda have a soft spot for a sexy man on a motorcycle.” I appreciate that he is deferring to a distraction allowing me some time to relax before jumping into the crap storm, so I cuddle back against him, enjoying the view and this man who is so quickly taking me over.

  “First successfully riding a Ducati demands knowing more than just a thing or two. And second, Beauty, you had a soft spot for me before you even saw my bike.” He rumbles into my neck sending chills down my spine.

  “To be totally honest, it was your fingers. Seeing how they stroked the strings of the guitar made my body come alive and hum with need.” I purr attempting to rub against him but receive a slap on the ass instead.

  “You’ve been spoiled.” He says gruffly but he nuzzles sweetly into my ear and neck. “Tell me what sent you running.”

  I turn to face him and take a deep breathe before laying out the phone conversation with my father to him. Jaden’s eyebrows and eyes became more pissed as I continued and by the end his jaw was clinched. He turned to lean on the rail facing out towards the water then rests his head into his hands.

  “Mother fucker, I knew something was off that morning. FUCK!” He yells slamming his palms on the wooden railing. Turning to me, I expect to see anger but he look horrified. He steps towards me slowly reaching a hand out, like he expects me to bolt away.

  “Nell, Beauty, I wasn’t nothing to do with her. I promise you, you are all that I want.” His big hand brushes over my cheek and I leaned into it. “But…I do need to tell you something that involves Emily. The reason why I was meeting up with her that morning. I wasn’t keeping it from you, I swear, I was going to tell you but I wanted to know more information before I did. I didn’t want to chase you away, not when I just found you.” I brush his lips with mine seeking to comfort and to comfort. While I know this is going to be a shock, I am resolved to stick by his side and help him through this.

  “Just tell me.” I whisper against his lips. He takes a deep breath, shutting his eyes while leaning he forehead against mine.

  “Emily says she is pregnant. She says that it is mine despite the fact that I always wrapped up tight with her.” He continues to explain about the day she showed up in Portland at the bus and then the next day when he met up with her.

  “She sent me this today.” He pulls out his phone and show me a grainy black and white video. A tiny white blob flickers and twitches. Then the sound comes through a fast wispy sound followed by a man’s voices says it’s the heartbeat.

  My heart is hammering uncontrollably and I want to vomit all over the phone but I just stand there and stare at the little flickering life. Life that may be forever linked to Jaden. I have no doubt that Jaden will want to be in the child’s life and hope that he will be allowed to be a good father. Selfishly I cannot help but contemplate where that puts me or where I want to be in the situ
ation. Jaden and I had been together for a couple days. We also do not even know if the child is really his…I’ll need to do some research on this.

  “Baby, please say something.” Jaden has my face in his hands again, scared I am going to run. I give him a reassuring kiss, that he quickly deepens, and despite the tumescent blow that was just delivered, my stress recedes and my body comes to life. The quick kiss extends into several minutes of devouring mouths and groping hands. Despite the shit storm upon us, the connection between us is deeply prevalent, it goes past sex, past the needs of wanting each other, past needing one another. My soul feels freed with him, safe and happy for the first time in my life.

  “It’s okay. We are okay. We will get a DNA test and figure it out from there. Until then she’s agreed to keep you updated on everything right?”

  “You’re not freaking out?” He looks completely dumbfounded and I cannot help but laugh. “Why aren’t you freaking the fuck out? Cause I am!”

  I run my hands along his forearms trying to sooth him. “There isn’t a whole lot we can do whether the baby is yours or not. But it not worth stressing about it until we know for sure the baby is yours? Then we go from there.”

  “If the baby is mine or not, I won’t lose you because of it.” He eyes are wild and he is panting. “I won’t lose the woman I love because of a situation I didn’t want and covered up to prevent.” So there isn’t a whole lot we can do. Not worth stressing about it until we having something to stress about right?”

  “Jaden, I am not going anywhere. I meant that we would decide what the plan would be if the baby is yours. I know you will want to be in its life. I can’t say that I am pleased with the idea of you having a baby with another woman but it happened before we even met. We have only been together a few days, Jaden, who knows what will end up happening especially if my dad finds out about us.” He wraps me up tight in his arms and kisses the top of my head several times while I snuggle into his wide chest.

  “After today we will be out at The Gorge Amphitheater for a few days and its out in the middle of nowhere Washington. We will have some time to talk and figure out some kind of plan on dealing with your Dad and Emily.” He holds me tight gently swaying us from side to side, while I try to relax against him.

  "How did I get so lucky to find you?"

  Being the face grabber he is, Jaden latches on once again looking deep into my eyes. “The moment I saw you I knew, the moment your eyes locked onto mine I knew, the second you bit this lip,” he pulls my lip from between my teeth. “I knew you were made to be mine. You were going to be my forever I have always wanted but never found. Nell, my beautiful delicious sweet Beauty, this is the worst timing ever, but my heart, my body, my soul, all of me belongs to you. I am so completely in love with you. I am the lucky one to have found you.” The honest and love shines though in his eyes as he whips away the tears running down my cheeks.

  “No one has ever said such beautiful words to me before.” I just barely get a glimpse of tortured disappointment when Jaden’s lips come crashing down onto mine. Silencing me from saying anymore or preventing himself from having to hear what I have to say but I will cowardly accept the escape.

  After several moments, Jaden pulls away, a huge smile on his face. “Come on. Let’s go for a ride and then we will go explore Seattle. I would still like to take you on that date.” Grabbing my hand he tugs me back towards the parking lot.

  “Do I get to drive Kiki again?”

  “Pift! You didn’t get to earlier. You stole my baby.” He spin quickly and I smack into his chest allowing his free hand to grab onto my ass. “And don’t think you won’t be punished for it later. You only ride my bike when I say you can…” his lips get close to mine but don’t touch. “Got it?”

  “Yes.” I whimper pushing forward to make contact but he pulls away, landing a much less playful smack on my ass, the kind that burns right into your core. If Jaden is phased he hides it because he just turns around and keeps walking dragging me behind him.

  We first take a drive through the city to the outskirts, through the beautiful green woods that seem to stretch forever. We find a little sub shop to grab lunch to go and set out in search of a quiet place to eat and talk. They caught up on, favorite colors, foods, beer, ice cream clearly the most important things. We laughed a lot and shared our mutual love of music.

  Jaden

  I didn’t think I could fall anymore in love with Nell but the more that we share, the more that we laugh, the more time we just share breathing the same air, the more I fall for this girl. She shared her fear performing and I secretly hope that I can help her overcome that. I deeply was to share the stage with her and her violin. I ache to play together, just her and me.

  “I would really like to hear you play again. Maybe we could play “Her Song” together.” I ask, we are laying on a blanket in a grassy area, we found along the shore of the Pudget Sound. I lay on his back one arm slung behind my head while the other plays with her hair that rests on my chest. Her head finds that perfect place on my chest. That place I am beginning to consider hers, like it was made just for her.

  “You really want to hear me play?” she asks with uncertainty in her eyes.

  “”Nell, I want to experience every part of you. I’d crawl inside your body and live there forever if I could.” She chortles as I realize how weird I sound, “And I mean that in the least creepy, psycho way possible.” She snorts and I love that she thinks my awkward creepiness is funny.

  “I love “Her Song”, it’s become my favorite of all of Toven’s songs.”

  “Mine too. Will you play with me when we get back to the bus?” I ask, mere seconds from begging.

  “Okay but in the bedroom away from the rest of the band.” She says with hesitation.

  “Deal! Should we head out?” I’m so excited, I want to jump up and go before she changes her mind.

  “Do we have too?” she asks looking up at me with pleading scared eyes.

  Changing tactics I throw out, “I want to show you more of Seattle still.”

  “Oh, then yeah let’s go.” She starts to push off of me but I pull her back down and onto my lips. We plunge and purge each other’s mouth, getting as close to each other as our clothes will allow. When her exploring hands start to tug at my belt buckle, I pull back and stops their momentum. Proving a point can be a mother fucker. A mew of protest escapes her swollen lips and I just grin up at her.

  “Punishment remember.” I state, before flipping her on her back and settling one leg between her thighs. She glares up at me knowing my plan is to just torture her some more, so when I move in to kiss her, she stubbornly turn her head. I miss kissing her lips but that doesn’t stop me. I land at that magical spot right below her ear, the spot that always causes her to suspire. Dragging my teeth down causes goosebumps break out all over her body. Nell arches her back pressing her chest up to mine and a growl escapes as I lick along her clavicle. Move down I use my chin scruff to tickle her skin setting it ablaze. With a single finger, I catch the collar of her shirt, exposing the valley between my breasts. Using my scruff once more, I tickle and graze the soft tender skin. Before pulling back and blowing ever so gently along the valley causing her body to quiver and shudder. Her nipples are hard peaks pleading for attention. Practically drilling through the fabrics between us as her hip flex her center against my thigh seeking relief.

  Nell

  When Jaden pulls back and stands, I just lay there panting and confused. Did I do something wrong? My brain is so horny for his cock that I feel like I am drunk. Hmm, maybe this is what Love Drunk feels like. I think which causes a giggle to escape, and Jaden to frown.

  “Is there something funny about your punishment?” He growls that sexy growl causing another shot of moisture to spill into my already drenched panties. I push my thighs together tight and start to squirm around, hope to relieve a little tension, but Jaden is on to me and pull my legs back apart. “Your pleasure is mine and I will give
it to you when you have severed your punishment for stealing Kiki.”

  I snort, in a horrible unladylike fashion, but fuck him, I’m light headed, horny as a fucking jack rabbit, and starting to consider punching him in his too pretty face, but decide to fuck with him instead. Maybe he will get so pissed he will punish me with aggressive growly angry sex.

  “Kiki is truly the worst name for a bike, I’ve ever heard!” I say laughing my ass off. I know what I’m saying is stupid but from the look on Jaden’s face he is getting irritated that I am not as fazed by his “punishment” as he had planned me to be. I am sure he was expecting me to be whining and begging for his cock at this point, not laughing at him.

  “I see what you are trying to do Princess and it’s not going to work.” He grumbles with a scowl.

  “I think I need to come up with something clever to call you and your impressive member you have there in your pants. Maybe Edward…” I ponder sitting up so I am eye-level with said trouser snack.