by Jayne Frost
I took her hands and guided them, folding the paper into a triangle. “I’ve been doing this since I was five. So don’t be so hard on yourself.” I corrected a small error, and she fought me with stubborn fingers. “Stop. Let me show you.”
She turned her face up to mine. “Who showed you?”
I narrowed my eyes and focused on the lines of the paper. The sharp creases. “My dad. He loved beautiful, worthless things.”
Her fingers froze beneath mine. “Worthless? Why would you say that?”
I didn’t. But my mother had. Right before she crumbled the iris he’d made her into a little ball.
Always in your head, Mick, with your beautiful, worthless things. It’s paper, see?
Ignoring the question, I winked at Gelsey. “Hand me that tissue paper over there.” She stared at me, frowning. “Come on. I think you’ll like this.”
Her fingertips skated over my jaw. “I like all of it.”
One quick kiss and she crawled toward the box at the foot of the bed. I stared at her ass as she sifted through the contents. White cotton panties. When did that become my favorite thing?
“Miles.”
Glancing up, I found her peering over her shoulder at me through strands of golden hair. “Yeah…sorry. What did you say?”
Her gaze dropped to my lap where the sheet was doing little to hide my erection. It took only a second for a smile to curve her mouth. A sweet invitation. And then she wiggled her ass.
“Stop with the ‘fuck me’ eyes,” I warned, gripping my dick through the sheet. “Unless you actually want to fuck.”
She thought about it for a moment before her hand slowly traveled down her belly and disappeared between her legs.
“Come here,” I ordered, tossing the covers back.
She eased onto her forearm, her ass still in the air. And now I could see everything. The wet spot on her panties and her fingers buried deep in the fabric.
“No,” she said huskily.
I rose to my knees, smiling. “No? You don’t want to fuck? Or you want me to watch you fuck yourself first? Use your words, baby.”
Her hand moved faster. But she didn’t say anything.
I crawled toward her. “You’re teasing me?” She shuddered as I pressed a kiss to her ass. “I bet I can get you to talk.”
She shook her head, then gasped when I yanked her panties to her knees.
“Keep going,” I cooed when her hand jerked to a stop. “I want to watch.”
Sinking back onto my haunches, I stroked myself slowly as she found her rhythm again.
“Fuck, you’re so wet. You like me watching you?”
Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she nodded, then squeezed her eyes shut.
“Keep looking at me,” I growled, thrusting a finger into her glistening pussy.
Her lids flew open. “Not… fair…” she whispered through a pant.
“Life’s not fair.”
The smile in my tone masked the tension through my body as I lazily stroked into her. When I felt her walls start to clench, I was on my knees again, my cock at her entrance.
And that’s when she found her voice.
“Do it, Miles. Please.”
We both groaned as I slammed into her.
“Easy,” I grunted, digging my fingers into her hips to keep her from moving. We’d only been skin on skin once before, about three hours ago after I got the email from the lab with the results of my test. So this was a new sensation, having all her warmth and wetness wrapped around my dick.
“Rub your clit,” I instructed as I pressed a kiss to her spine. “I want to feel you come.”
Gelsey was into it now, and the words were flowing. Along with the moans. I continued to whisper against her skin until she flew apart.
Teetering on the edge of my own release, I pulled out and flipped her over. She looked surprised. And flushed. And so fucking hot.
Bringing her fingers to my mouth, I entered her again while she watched me with wide eyes.
“Can you come again, baby?”
No sooner had I said the words then her back arched off the bed. Gelsey did everything gracefully. Even fuck. And for a moment, it was like a dance with no music. I lifted her to sitting without breaking our connection, and we were face-to-face, her legs wrapped around my waist.
You can’t keep her.
This time the voice in my head was all mine. Which should’ve made it easier to ignore. But it didn’t. As I opened my mouth to speak, she pressed her fingertips to my lips.
“Tell me something no one else knows,” she breathed, gently rocking against me.
And when her hand fell away, it was right there, on the tip of my tongue.
I love you.
Maybe she knew it too, because one look into my eyes and she dropped her head back and came apart in my arms.
Gelsey
I woke in the middle of the night in my favorite spot—wrapped in Miles’s arms. It didn’t matter where. The pool house. Or his bed. Anywhere he was, that’s where I wanted to be.
I shifted, and paper crunched under me.
The flowers.
Lifting onto my elbow, I looked around to see if any could be salvaged. But I gave up when I caught sight of Miles’s profile. Moonlight kissed his skin, and I could just make out the angle of his jaw. And his strong nose. The furrow on his brow that never completely went away, even when he slept.
Smoothing the lines with my thumb, I felt my lips curve when he sighed. Who would be here to do this after I was gone?
Stomach twisting, I jerked my hand away and rolled onto my side.
Distance. I needed it.
But as I tried to will myself back to sleep, a paper figure on the nightstand caught my eye. I inched toward it, my heart crawling into my throat when I realized what it was. A ballerina made of tissue, arms stretched to the sky. I reached out and ran my finger over the pleats on the skirt, tears filling my eyes.
A beautiful, worthless thing. That wasn’t worthless at all. Because Miles made it for me. And that meant it was worth everything.
Miles
Taryn crossed her arms, surveying Blake on the other side of the glass. We were at the Phoenix Souls Studios on Sixth, where I’d brought the kid so she could have a look see.
Sweat dampened both palms as I tried to gauge her reaction out of the corner of my eye. And what the fuck? Even if Taryn didn’t like what she heard, what did I care? My name was gold in the industry. All the years out of the spotlight had only added to my mystique.
“Miles?” Blinking out of my trance, I noticed Taryn’s scrunched up brow. “Is everything okay?”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, of course. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” I refocused on Blake. “You know, the kid’s kind of fragile. So I don’t want to put him through the wringer. If you’re not interested, I can take him somewhere else.”
Taryn turned to face me, a deep crease between her brows. “Hold the phone, cowboy. This is me. Us. If you like this guy, we’ll offer him a deal. This studio…” She looked around with a soft smile. “This is the house that Damaged built. And you’re Damaged.” I raised a brow, and she rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. None of this would be possible without…”
She swallowed hard, and I offered a nod, letting her off the hook. We’d fallen back into our easy friendship—texting and talking on the phone like we used to. But Taryn was still reticent about bringing up Paige and Rhenn, or even alluding to them. Like I might break down. That was the risk I ran when telling someone about my condition.
Taryn didn’t understand that my depression didn’t manifest with weepy tears. Anger. That was my jam. She’d seen the full measure of it when I told her to get the fuck out of my life. That was the last time I’d let that genie out of the bottle.
“I appreciate that, T-Rex. But I’d really like your honest opinion.”
She tilted her head at me before shifting her attention to Blake. Assessing him with a shrewd gaze, she tappe
d her finger against her lips. And in that moment, I glimpsed what Taryn had become. A powerhouse. Brilliant as fuck with an unmatched eye for talent. Far removed from the eighteen-year-old girl who’d negotiated our first contract.
“I like him,” she finally said. “He’s got the IT factor, and he’s easy on the eyes. I can sell him.”
I smiled. “You can sell anyone.”
She gave a self-deprecating shrug, but she knew it.
“Okay.” I rubbed my hands together. “I guess the next step would be getting Tori in the loop? And Chase?”
They were the two other principals, but I wasn’t sure who actually ran the studio.
Taryn pressed her lips into a firm line but didn’t look at me.
“T-Rex. You don’t have to go out on a limb for me. I’m not asking Phoenix Souls to front any money. I’ve got cash.”
To burn.
Every time I looked at my bank balance it was bigger. And that was thanks to Taryn as well.
Tears shimmered in her blue eyes. “I’ve waited for this day, Miles. Hoped for it.” She took her phone from her pocket. “Give me a second to call Chase. He’ll finish up with Blake and you and I can talk.”
I shifted my feet, wary. “We are talking.”
“Upstairs. In the offices.”
Taryn didn’t say a word as the industrial elevator carried us to the top floor. The building had a rustic feel, since it was originally a warehouse. But the studios were state-of-the-art. I had a feeling this new venture would only add to what was already a thriving empire.
We stepped off the lift, and Taryn took off ahead of me down the long hallway. Slowing my steps when I came upon a wall of photos, I glanced over all the notable bands that were now with the new label.
“Wow, Taryn. This is really impressive.”
A few yards away, she fumbled with some keys in front of a closed door. “Thanks.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Let’s talk in here.”
And there was that word again. Talk. I managed a carefree smile as I took her up on the invitation.
“Why so formal?” I asked as I scooted past her and into the empty office.
A mahogany desk sat in front of the window facing Sixth. On the opposite end of the room, a leather couch and matching chair with the tags still attached cupped a sturdy round table. And that was it. Nothing on the walls. Even the carpet looked like no one had walked on it.
“This looks like the scene from a mob movie,” I joked. “If you’ve brought me here to whack me, you should probably lay some plastic on the floor. You know, so you won’t have to replace the carpets.”
She smiled nervously. “Let’s sit down.”
But instead of taking her place behind the desk, she sidled to the sofa and eased onto the edge of the cushion. If this were ten years ago, she would’ve pulled out a smoke. I’d bet my life on it. Instead, she crossed her legs, and her foot began to bob.
Flopping down beside her, I ran a hand through my hair. “T-Rex, whatever it is—”
“This is your office,” she blurted. “Please don’t be mad. I know I’ve overstepped before. Just…hear me out.”
Stunned, I jerked a nod, and she let out a relieved breath. Holding up a finger, she hopped to her feet and rushed over to the desk. When she reclaimed her seat, she had a file in her hand.
“When we formalized the plans for the label, Tori and I wanted to make you a part of it. But we didn’t know how. She wasn’t really talking to you and I…I was afraid you’d think I was trying to force myself back into your life.”
Guilt swamped me, stealing my words. “Taryn…”
“Let me finish,” she rushed out. “You own a fifteen percent share in the label and the studio. Tori, Chase, and I each own twenty-five percent shares. The other ten percent goes to Paige and Rhenn’s endowment fund. Those shares can’t be sold or revoked. And if we go public, they’ll be converted to regular stock with a trustee.” Smoothing her hands over the file, she looked up at me. “It’s all in here. But I want you to know, it’s not about the money. Or guilt. Or anything else. We—Tori and me—always dreamed that you’d come on board. Any way you wanted. As a producer. Or a studio musician. Or in talent acquisition.”
I laughed when I heard the hitch in her voice. “Really, T-Rex? You know damn well the talent is your domain.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “You’re not mad?”
Taking her hand, I shook my head and sighed. “Of course, I’m not mad. Why would I be mad?”
I kept my gaze on our entwined digits, hoping she wouldn’t answer. We both knew I didn’t need a reason to be mad. I’d been mad for the better part of the last six years.
“I’m grateful…and not just for this.” I chuckled, despite the burning in my throat. “You saved me, Taryn. And I never thanked you for it. But I’m thanking you now.”
The file slid to the ground when she threw her arms around me. She mumbled something into my T-shirt about Rhenn and Paige and their legacy. And for once I didn’t feel like crawling out of my skin.
After a long moment, she gathered her composure and pulled away.
Swiping a tear from her cheek with the pad of my thumb, I asked, “So what kinds of things can I do to help earn my keep around here?”
Taryn perked up. “Really?”
I sat back, my focus on the window where cotton candy clouds hung low in the sky.
“I’m thirty years old. Too young to retire. Music is the only thing I know. But I’m not sure what help I can be if it doesn’t involve banging on the drums.”
Taryn sank against the cushion, her head on my shoulder. “You can always travel around and show off that pretty mug. Get the girls all swoony.” She grabbed my chin and gave it a squeeze. “Unless…” I felt her gaze burn into me when she leaned back. “You’re off the market, aren’t you? Kelsey? The ballerina?”
“It’s Gelsey.”
Denying the rest was pointless, so I didn’t even try. Taryn’s smile turned electric.
“Don’t get excited, T-Rex. It’s not like that. She’s…” Leaving. Scrubbing my hands down my face, I shook my head. “Whatever. She’ll be gone soon.”
When Taryn’s face swam into view, worry lines creased her brow. “When?”
“A little over a month. She’s going to New York next week to shore things up.” I craned my neck to the door. “We should probably head downstairs. I’ve got to get Blake back to Millwood.”
Taryn nodded, taking out her phone. She tapped away while I took a last look around, wondering what it would be like to work here. My bio was filled with fluff about Grammys and platinum albums, but I’d never held a job in my life.
“Well, all righty then,” Taryn crowed, slipping her phone back into her pocket as we headed toward the elevator.
Giving her a sidelong glance, I noticed her self-satisfied smile. “Something you’d like to share?”
“I just booked your first official appearance on behalf of Phoenix Souls Music.”
Jesus, this girl. No moss growing under her feet. Or mine, apparently.
Resigned, I followed her onto the lift. “When and where?”
“Next week. You’re doing the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” Smirking, she pressed the button for the third floor. “In New York City.”
Gelsey
Blake smiled at me from across the SUV as we pulled onto Congress Avenue. “So, Gelsey. You’re a ballet dancer?”
It wasn’t really a question. And that made me stupidly happy. Obviously, Miles had told him about me.
Or maybe not.
They’d just picked me up at the dance company, and I was wearing a leotard under my sweats. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure it out.
Miles laid a possessive hand on my leg, and Blake grinned at the gesture.
“Guilty,” I replied a little too brightly, my words carving through the thick haze of testosterone. Stupid boys. “And you’re a musician?”
Blake’s smile faded, and he shifted his focu
s to the downtown traffic. “Remains to be seen.” After a moment of awkward silence, he stretched and addressed Miles. “Do you mind if we stop at What-a-Burger? I probably missed dinner. And I gotta take a piss.”
Miles relayed the request to the driver who swung the car into a shopping center parking lot a few minutes later.
“Be right back,” said Blake, reaching for the door handle like he couldn’t wait to escape.
“Hold up.” Miles fished some money out of his pocket. “Can you pick us up a couple of number one meals?”
Pocketing the cash with a wry smile, Blake shook his head. “Seriously? You’re not going to take your girl out for a nice meal?” Before Miles could reply, Blake tossed me a look of mock pity. “Your boyfriend’s got no game.” He waggled his brows. “Maybe we should—”
“Back off, you little shit,” Miles interjected with only a hint of irritation. “Before I kick your ass to the curb and make you get your own ride home.”
Blake’s grin broadened as he threw open the door. “And how would you ever explain things to the good doctor?”
“I’m not afraid of Sheppard,” Miles muttered. “Now get your damn food. I’m worn out.”
“Because you’re old,” Blake shot back as he hopped to his feet. “Really old,” he mouthed to me before slamming the door.
I watched his broad shoulders curve inward as he sauntered across the blacktop. Despite his confident swagger, there was an air of defeat about him. And those eyes. Timeworn was the only way to describe them.
“I thought he’d be younger,” I murmured as Blake ducked around a small group by the door.
Miles looped an arm around me. “He’s barely twenty-one.”
“So, my age, then.”
My teeth sank into my bottom lip to hide my groan. Why did I say that? Our eight-year age gap really bothered Miles, and I wasn’t sure why. Maybe Emily had brought it up. Or his manager.
“Yep. I’m surrounded by youngsters.”
