by Ivy Harper
“Alicia.” Hearing my name, I turned around without thinking. I widened my eyes at the sight of Gerald, who stood with a few people near the elevator. Recovering quickly, I turned away.
“Wait, Alicia.”
I ignored him. How could I have turned around when he called my real name? I’d really been in my head. I quickly walked around the corner to lose him, but he obviously was determined to stick to me.
He placed a hand on my arm. “Alicia, wait. I wanted to apologize.”
I turned around and pushed his hand off me. “I’m sorry, but you’ve got the wrong person.”
His brow crinkled as he looked me over. “You’re lying, your eyes and hair aren’t the same, but I already heard from your brother you liked keeping a low-key presence. I get it, it’s hard being someone like us. We have to do anything we can to maintain our private lives.”
I gritted my teeth as I gave a look around. I needed to get rid of him. “If you’re aware of that, then do me the favor of acting like you don’t know me.”
Once again, I tried to shake him off. This time he grabbed my wrist. “Look, I’ll let you go once you listen to my apology. My dad’s eager to see us get together, so I wanted to invite you out for dinner as an apology.”
Tired of his persistence, I took a step closer. “I don’t want to have dinner with you, and I have no interest in accepting your apology. Now, since I’ve made that clear, I’m going to ask you once more to let me go before I make you.”
I should have known Gerald was human trash. He smiled down at me. “Don’t act so cocky. It isn’t like I’m doing this because I want to. Just come to dinner with me and stop throwing a tantrum.”
I curled the fingers of my free hand into a fist. One punch would not only make him less of a problem, but also teach the arrogant fuck a lesson.
“Jazz?”
Knowing who it was who called my name, I no longer hesitated and lashed out with my foot. Gerald released a pained cry and fell to one knee, which resulted in him losing his hold on my wrist. I leaned down and whispered in his ear.
“I’m not cocky, you’re just not worth my time.”
I patted his shoulder before I left his side and walked toward Tak who stood at the end of the hallway. He looked from me to Gerald who was on his knees.
“Who is that?”
“Someone who doesn’t know how to take no for an answer,” I said, holding my hand out. “Are you done?”
Tak wordlessly walked past me, ignoring my hand. “Wait, I already dealt with him.”
“But I haven’t,” he said savagely.
Gerald slowly stood. He’d barely straightened when Tak reached him and with no hesitation swung, hitting Gerald square in the jaw. He grabbed his collar, keeping him from falling.
“Wait, you can’t pass out yet,” Tak said, his voice sounding almost excited. He punched Gerald once more.
“I know a lot of scumbags like you, you’re always looking for girls you think don’t have any backing. You fucked around and messed with the wrong girl.” He punched him again and shoved Gerald so hard his back hit the wall with a thud sound.
The loud bang pulled me out of my shock. I ran over to Tak. “Stop, that’s enough.”
I grabbed his arm, knowing if I didn’t stop him this would turn into a bigger issue. He acted like he couldn’t hear me as he fought my hold and pulled his leg back to kick Gerald who was knocked out.
“Tak,” I shouted. Seeing he wasn’t going to stop, I grabbed his collar and yanked him so his head turned toward me and kissed him, open-eyed. I watched as the anger in his eyes cooled. Ending the kiss, I turned and pulled him behind me. “Come on.”
He quietly followed me out of the hall, both of us paused when we saw Chelsea, who looked from me to the scene behind us. I expected her to yell, but instead she said, “Why?”
“The fucker was harassing Jazz, so I taught him a lesson,” Tak answered with his usual cockiness.
She sighed and pulled out her cell phone from her coat pocket. “Got it, I’ll take care of it, but don’t be shocked if Kole calls you to the office if the victim presses charges.”
Tak walked forward and glared down at Chelsea. “Tell him to make sure he thinks twice about it. And as for that fucker, just find out who he is and make sure he doesn’t stir up trouble. It wasn’t like I beat the shit out of him for myself.”
“So, you want to go from rebellious rock star to heroic dark angel,” Chelsea said as she started tapping away on her phone. “I’ll get PR on it.”
“Finally, you’re fucking doing your job. Sounds like it’s time for you to get another raise,” Tak chortled as we walked back to his dressing room.
I followed him silently. I needed to contact one of the Roarke family’s lawyers and get them to reach out to Gerald. I couldn’t let this situation get out of control. This was the last thing Tak needed in his life.
“Tak?”
He didn’t answer me as he dragged me into his dressing room and shut the door. Letting go of my hand, he then took off his leather coat and tossed it on the couch. I gave a quick look around the modest dressing room.
It was clean and bright. When I refocused on Tak, his back faced me. A memory from when we were in school came to me.
Tak standing over the school’s bully he’d beaten to a pulp when the bully pushed one of the other kids down the stairs. Tak had always been the only one willing to defend the kids who’d been labeled as different back then. Like everyone else, I’d thought he was just a troublemaker and one of the cool kids.
Until that day when he proved that he had a ferociously protective side for those weaker than him. The teachers had to drag him off the bully, but like a lot of the kids at our school, Tak was from a wealthy family. He was only suspended for a week.
Overwhelmed with my memories from back then, I walked over to him and hugged him from behind. “Thank you.” I pressed my face to his back.
He stiffened and turned to look over his shoulder. “I don’t need you to thank me.”
Finally gaining control of my emotions, I looked up at him. “But I want to thank you and I want to kiss you.”
He turned around fully and picked me up. Taken aback, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“I’ve been waiting to hear those magical words since last night.”
He walked over to the vanity counter and set me down. Deciding to take control, I pulled him down and took his lips with mine. He played along the seam of my lips with his tongue.
I opened them, tasting his delicious flavor. The addictive smell of his cologne filled my nose as I fell deeper into his kiss. I allowed my hands to wander up to his hair, drawing him in closer.
He moaned. I widened my legs so he could step between them. With a groan of pleasure, he pulled back and kissed along my cheek and neck.
“Fuck, I want to fuck you right here.”
His voice was like liquor, it entered my soul and made me drunk and foolish to his desires. Without a word, I let go of him and pulled off my jacket and unbuttoned my shirt.
“Then do it.”
His brown eyes deepened to black, the heat in them seared my skin as he moved one of his hands to my chest and tugged my bra down, then gently grabbed my breast. He leaned down and took my nipple into his mouth.
My stomach tightened as he sucked, while he pushed his other hand down into my pants. I panted as he entered my underwear with his long fingers, and he found the seam of my pussy. He wriggled his fingers, asking for entry.
I widened my legs a bit more and bit my bottom lip when he found my nub with astonishing precision. He pulled back, my nipple popping from his mouth. He leaned forward so his lips rested near my ear.
“Looks like Ms. Bodyguard has been drooling for my dick this entire time.” He curled his fingers up. I cried out, pressing my chest against his. “Not only are you soaking my fingers, but you’re already so swollen. Fuck, don’t regret this, love.”
He licked the outer shell of my
ear and continued whispering naughty things into it. Tak played me just like he did the guitar, thrusting and stroking, taunting me to move my hips against his hand.
“Shit, Jazz. I’m going to need your help.” I could barely hear past the sound of my throbbing heart when he unzipped his pants. “Here, give me some love too.”
He took my hand and placed it over his warm dick. It was soft and throbbed in my grasp. He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Don’t be shy and stroke him.”
He twisted his fingers inside me. I closed my eyes and stroked, unable to focus as he fiddled with me like I was his personal plaything. In that moment, he could order me to do anything and I would do it.
“Good girl.”
The room was filled with his low murmurs and my small cries of pleasure. After a few minutes, I felt the first ripple of my orgasm come over me and greedily lifted my chin for more of his breathtaking kisses.
Squinting his eyes in pleasure, he leaned down and filled my mouth with his tongue.
His body tensed against mine as he came all over my hand. A deep groan coming from his chest. “Shit, Jazz.”
I enjoyed the afterglow as he leaned his body against mine. After a few minutes, we finally pulled apart. He took a step back and stuffed his dick back into his pants. I looked down curiously at the semen that coated my hand.
“Let me get you a towel,” he offered.
“No need.” I lifted my cum-covered hand and licked it off, not looking away from him.
I watched surprise flicker across his face before something dark entered his eyes.
“Jazz.” He took a step toward me, but the sound of his phone interrupted whatever he’d been thinking about doing.
I dropped my hand and hopped off the counter to go to the bathroom that was in the dressing room. I’d needed to straighten myself up and think over what I’d just done. The line I told myself not to cross, I’d crossed.
Shit, Tak really had a habit of destroying my plans.
Chapter 36
Long Time, No See
Tak
* * *
The next day I waited in the photography studio for them to change the background scene from white to black. The memory of Jazz’s bold expression when she licked my cum off her fingers played over and over in my head. The photographer and Chelsea stood near a table covered with monitors, both going over the pictures I’d already taken.
Meanwhile, Jazz stood next to the exit, her gaze constantly scanning the room. I wondered if she thought she looked fierce because to me she looked cute. I enjoyed the fact that I could watch her at my leisure.
I frowned when I heard a familiar voice. “How many more shoots before he’s done?” Kole asked as he walked in.
The good mood I’d had washed away the minute I saw him. Chelsea turned away from the monitors.
“Just a few more, he should be done in the next half hour.”
“What brings you here?” I asked when he stopped in front of me.
“Chelsea called me about what you did at the broadcast station.”
“And?”
“You’re fucking lucky the guy decided not to press charges. For some reason he wanted it all to be pushed under the rug,” Kole said, frowning. “Actually, he seemed more than a little bit desperate for us to not share it with the media.”
“Good.” I laughed. “And here I thought he’d try to spin it in his favor. Apparently, the little shit cares about his image.”
He released a sigh. “Whether he does or not, you have to stop being so reckless. I told you, keep a low profile and stay out of trouble.”
“Fuck that, if someone in my circle is being mistreated, I’m going to do what I have to. And if that mean’s beating some little shit to a pulp, that’s just what’s going to happen.”
He glared at me. “We’re going to have to do something about your mouth.”
I licked my bottom lip suggestively. “But I’m so good at using it.”
Seeing as that didn’t get him to leave, I asked. “Why are you still here? You’re causing my limbs to freeze. Don’t you have some intern to harass?”
He ignored me and said, “The Nakamuras called, one of them wants to have a one-on-one meeting with you. They said they’ll increase the pay if you do it.”
“Kole, you know better than anyone, I don’t like repeating myself. I won’t meet with them. The only way I’m going to do any advertisement with their company is if they keep their fucking owners away from me. If they can’t do that one thing, then like I said before, I won’t do it.”
His jaw ticked. Good, I hope the fucker was stressed. I told him no to begin with and the one card he had he’d used to get Jazzy in my house.
The only reason I was doing the fucking commercial was because of Chelsea’s annoying ass. On this, there was nothing else he could do but deal with it.
“Listen, think of it as paying me back for dealing with the near shitstorm you almost started. This is the last thing I’m going to ask you to do.”
“Ready on the set,” the photographer that had been talking to Chelsea announced.
I looked away from Kole and said, “Look, they’re calling me.”
I was pleased as I felt his eyes boring into my back as I walked away. He should feel a bit of the gnawing irritation I’d felt every time he’d approached me with the Nakamuras’ name. Kole needed to drop it and fucking go work on something other than me.
I’m sure there’s some girl group waiting to be signed out there.
* * *
***
* * *
“Fuck, I’m starting to think it’s time to leave JS Records,” I said after finding Kole outside of my dressing room as I exited. Jazz followed quietly behind me.
He leaned against the wall across from the door and held out a card. “This is the amount we lose if you don’t go.”
I took the card from him and dropped it on the floor. “I don’t care how much it is, I’m not doing it. I already agreed to do the damn advertisement, this is where I draw the line.”
I stomped off, making sure I stepped on the card as I left. My schedule for the day was done anyway. All I wanted to do was get as far away from Kole as possible.
“Tak.”
I ignored Jazz calling after me as I nearly ran to where my car was parked. I was sick and tired of everyone pushing me to meet with the Nakamuras.
I slammed out of a random door I assumed to be the exit and found myself in an outdoor break area. “Shit.” I kicked the trash can that stood next to the door, before shoving another door open and finally getting outside.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled at the collar of my shirt. It felt like I was being strangled.
“Tak.”
“Back off,” I yelled, turning on Jazz who’d followed me outside.
Looking startled she took a step back.
Seeing this, I quickly apologized. “Sorry, you’re not the one pissing me the fuck off.”
She averted her eyes. “No, I get it. I should have let you blow some steam off first.”
I rolled my eyes. “You got a pack of edibles or a number for a hitman?”
Her brow wrinkled. “No to both, fortunately.”
I laughed. “No, it’s actually unfortunate. I need something, anything to take this edge off.”
She shook her head. “There are other ways to take the edge off.”
I shot her a look. “Well, the last time I went out to burn it off someone took my place.”
“You don’t need to put your life on the line to get relief from stress.” Her eyes turned fiery with anger. “First, I should ask why you feel so strongly about not working with the Nakamura company?”
I took a look around before I met her gaze again. “Can’t I just not fucking want to do it? I don’t fucking get this fame shit. I thought I’d be living more freely, not pushed to do something someone else wants,” I whined, knowing I sounded childish. “I had more freedom as a drugged-up high schooler, shit.”
> “Then why do you keep doing it?” she asked, her voice soft.
I released a frustrated breath and covered my face with one hand, thinking it over. I finally dropped my hand to my side and asked her.
“Tell me, what are you good at?” Her expression turned thoughtful. “Like the talent you have that could make you money,” I added after a quick thought.
“Well, I speak two languages and I can cook. I have an MBA in business, a black belt, and I am certified in fitness training...” She trailed off when she saw my incredulous expression. Releasing a nervous laugh, she then said, “I had a lot of time on my hands at some point. So, I went after a lot of things.”
“Well, I’d always been considered a disappointment when I was younger. Nothing more than an annoyance to the people who called me son.” I waved off the sympathy in her eyes.
“Nah, don’t feel sorry for me. Anyway, the one thing that’s always been with me is music.” I closed my eyes and immediately my head was filled with the soft strings of a violin and the loud rumble of drums. “All my life, it’s either been in my ears or playing in my head.”
When I opened my eyes, she hadn’t looked at me with sympathy but possessiveness. And it probably pointed out some sick desire in me because I found the idea of a possessive Jazzy hot as fuck. In the blink of an eye, it was gone, and she was once more back to an intent stare.
“I can’t breathe without a mic or a stage. Music is all I have. It’s both my prison and a form of freedom.”
I struggled for a moment before I continued. “And Kole is the one who took my investment and my music and made my barely-there dream come to life, but this shit is starting to feel more and more like a cage. It’s ironic that the single thing in this world I love the most is the reason I have to meet with the people that I hate the most.”
I turned away from her. “Shit.”
“Come on. Stand up,” my cousin taunted.
My small hands scraped against the rocks as tears slipped down my face. I forced myself to stand, even though my knees shook. I tried to endure another punch from him, only to fall right back to my knees.