The Carol Wyatt Collection

by Carol Wyatt

  “You won't believe it.”

  “What?”

  “You know that video I uploaded last week to YouTube.”

  “Yeah...”

  “It's got more than twenty-two thousand views. It shot up yesterday and again today. Usually my videos only get a thousand maybe two thousand views.”

  “Wow. That's great.”

  “I linked your info in the description... Just in case...”

  “Thanks. I'm on the way home. I'll see you in a half hour?”

  “Yeah. See you then.”

  Hailey hung up with a smile on her face. Even though it was Lauren singing her song and it was her channel, it was still a big deal. More than twenty thousand people had listened to a song she'd written. That was huge.

  Hopefully, it was just the start.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Elle helped Matt clear the rustic dining room table, taking their plates into the kitchen and loading the dishwasher.

  “So, what's going on with Hailey?” Matt asked as he refilled Elle's glass of Merlot. “She said you canceled your lessons.”

  “I didn't think it was good for me to be around her...”

  “Elle, that's crazy. You're interested in her. She's into you... What's the problem?”

  She followed him into his living room and sat down on the leather couch beside him.

  “And don't say it's because she's too young,” Matt said, turning to face her.

  Elle shrugged. “She's twelve years younger than me.”

  “That's really not a big deal. You're just looking for an excuse.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Because you're afraid, Elle. I know you.”

  “That's ridiculous.”

  “You're afraid of getting hurt again.”

  Elle sighed and took a drink. Maybe he had a point.

  “We went on a date the other day.”

  “Really?” Matt asked, his eyebrows arching.

  “And it was... Really nice. Relaxing... Normal.”

  “So, you weren't worrying about your age difference then?”

  “No... And... The way she kissed me,” Elle said, unable to hide her smile. “I don't know... It was intense.”

  “Wow. Good first date.”

  “Well, she actually kissed me before the date... The night you two were in my house.”

  “Oh. I'm glad I left then... I wanted to give you two a chance to talk but I wasn't expecting that. Look, Elle, you just need to go for it. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. You'll never know unless you give it a shot.”

  “I know...”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Elle checked her watch. 7:28pm. Hailey would be here any minute and Elle couldn't wait to see her. She'd been so busy with the launch of their latest software and making sure everything was in place that Elle couldn't seem to find any free time.

  She went into the kitchen to pour herself a drink. She could still taste Hailey's lips against hers, but she didn't want to be remembering how they felt. She wanted the real thing.

  Elle was doing her best to take Matt's words of encouragement to heart. ‘You just need go for it.’

  She'd spent the day thinking about what she was really doing; why she was really running away from this, and Matt was right. Maybe she was afraid of getting hurt again, but the logical part of her was also telling her this couldn't work no matter how much she wanted it to.

  She finally sent Hailey a text, asking her if she was free this evening, half expecting her to already have plans, but she agreed to come over at 7:30.

  Elle didn't have any plans for tonight but judging by the way they couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other the first time they'd kissed, she decided to be prepared, pulling the sexiest lingerie she could find from the back of her drawer. She'd tried on half her wardrobe earlier, trying to find the balance between casual and looking her best. She settled on black jeans and a white top that revealed a hint of cleavage, finding a pair of dressy flip flops to slip her feet into. She'd left her hair down in loose waves and spritzed herself with her favorite perfume.

  The doorbell rang just as Elle was about to open a bottle of wine. She left the corkscrew down on the counter and checked her reflection in the mirror on her way to answer the door. She silently promised herself that she wouldn't run from whatever might happen tonight. She needed to see what this was, what their chances really were.

  “Hey,” Elle said with a smile as she opened the door, meeting Hailey's blue eyes.

  “Hi.”

  “Come in.”

  Elle stood back, letting Hailey pass, her perfume surrounding Elle as she passed by her. Elle led her into the living room and she couldn't help noticing there was something different about her. Hailey had a light in her eyes, a smile tugging at her soft lips. She was wearing skinny jeans and a gray tank top, her blond hair straight.

  “You seem happy,” Elle said.

  “I am... For more than one reason... Lauren has a YouTube channel and she posted a video of her singing one of my songs... And it's gone viral. She doesn't have a huge following, but somehow that video has over four hundred thousand views.”

  “What? That's amazing. For both of you.”

  Hailey nodded, a smile on her face. “I still can't believe it.”

  “Did you ever think of joining forces? Forming a band?”

  “We have. We've always talked about it, but it might be time to take it seriously,” Hailey said with a smile.

  “You were fantastic the night you were here... You kind of feed of each other when you're playing together...”

  “And I think you might have been jealous.”

  “Maybe... But I thought you were a couple and seeing you perform together just made it worse for me. You seemed so... I don't know... In sync. Like you were meant to be together.”

  “Musically? Maybe. She's been a great friend and roommate too. I got lucky,” Hailey said with a shy smile as she reached for Elle's hand. “In a lot of ways.”

  Hailey's free hand cupped Elle's cheek as she leaned in. Elle's eyes fluttered shut, her fingers interlaced with Hailey's as their lips met in a slow, tender kiss that left Elle with little doubt as to where this night was going. She pulled away while she still could.

  “Wine?” Elle asked as Hailey's thumb lightly caressed her cheek for a second before she dropped it.

  “Sure. Whatever you're having is fine.”

  “Okay. I'll be back in a second.”

  Elle took a deep breath as she went into kitchen to uncork the bottle that was waiting for her on the counter and poured them each a glass. She rested her palms on the counter, pushing away the last of her doubts. She'd been alone for long enough. It was time for her to live a little, to give someone new a chance.

  She carried their glasses into the living room, piano music greeting her as she got closer. Hailey was sitting in front of the piano, playing a haunting melody that Elle didn't recognize. She stood in the doorway, listening, admiring, and falling even harder for Hailey.

  Her blond hair was swept across one shoulder, her expression serious as she played. Elle's eyes traveled down her toned arms to her slender fingers that moved with ease across the keys. She couldn't remember ever being this drawn to someone. It wasn't just physical either. She just wanted to be around her, to listen to her play, to hear her laugh, to make her smile.

  Elle took a sip of wine, pushing down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. She stayed in the doorway, listening to Hailey play, goosebumps forming on her arms as the last notes filled the room and Hailey's hands slid away from the keys, resting on her thighs as she turned to meet Elle's eyes.

  “Sorry,” Hailey said with an apologetic smile. “I can't seem to ignore a piano when it's in the room.”

  “Don't apologize.”

  Hailey pushed herself off the bench, crossing the room to meet Elle halfway, their fingers brushing lightly as Hailey took her glass from Elle.

  “Thanks,�
� Hailey said as she took a sip.

  “That was beautiful. What was it?”

  “The one that went viral for Lauren.”

  “The song you wrote?”

  Hailey nodded. “She came up with the melody, and I wrote the lyrics. It came together pretty quick.”

  “It's hauntingly beautiful. Will you sing it?”

  Hailey's eyes widened as she smiled. “No... Sorry, Elle. I don't really sing.”

  “Come on. I find that hard to believe... You're so talented. I'm sure you can sing too.”

  Hailey reached for her phone that was in the front pocket of her jeans. Elle watched her as she swiped her thumb across it and left it down on the coffee table beside them a few seconds later with what sounded like Miles Davis's smooth trumpet music filling the room.

  “Why don't we dance instead?” Hailey asked, gently taking Elle's glass out of her hand and leaving both of them beside her phone.

  Before Elle could respond, Hailey’s hand was sliding up her back, resting just below her shoulder blades, while her left hand found Elle's, holding her close as they swayed to the music. Elle closed her eyes as she draped her left hand over Hailey's shoulder, all of her senses heightened when there was so little space between them. Hailey's perfume surrounded her, and a warmth spread through Elle's body as their bare arms touched.

  Elle's heart hammered in her chest and she wondered if Hailey could feel it, if she could sense how nervous she was. It wasn't just about what was more than likely going to happen next. It was what it would mean the next day and the day after that.

  Elle had no doubt that it would be amazing. Even the way Hailey made her feel right now, just having her arm wrapped around her, being so close... Elle's body was alive, her pulse racing, her skin tingling, and they were just dancing. Elle didn't know how she was going to handle feeling Hailey's bare skin against hers. What would she do when Hailey undressed her, when there was nothing left to separate Hailey's fingertips from her tanned skin.

  Elle's eyes opened as the song finished and Hailey's bright blue eyes found hers. They didn't speak, but Elle knew that it wasn't just her. Hailey was feeling this too. Her arms were covered in goosebumps, and her stunning blue eyes smoldered.

  Elle glanced down at her lips, knowing she couldn't resist them for much longer. She slowly dropped Hailey's hand, leaving the other on her shoulder as she leaned in, inching her lips closer until their mouths pressed together, and Hailey parted her lips against Elle's. Their tongues met, dancing intimately just as they had done a moment ago. Elle's hand left Hailey's shoulder, sliding up her neck, her fingertips spreading through Hailey's blond hair, deepening the kiss.

  Hailey moaned softly into her mouth, and Elle knew at that moment, there was no going back. Kissing Hailey was the most addictive experience that Elle had ever had and as much as she wanted to rip her clothes off, to feel Hailey's skin against hers, Elle could've stayed like this for hours, with Hailey in her arms, their lips pressed together.

  Hailey's hand drifted further up her back, resting at the nape of Elle's neck as they continued to kiss, her other hand holding onto Elle's hip through her black pants. Hailey broke their kiss, her eyes full of longing, almost undressing her as she took a step back, reaching for Elle's hand and leading them over to the couch without saying a word. She didn't need to. Her eyes told Elle everything.

  Hailey gently pushed Elle down onto the couch, straddling her. Elle's hands moved to her waist, but Hailey caught them and pushed them into the couch just behind her head.

  Elle's breath hitched as Hailey's lips brushed across her neck, kissing her way up to her jawline, trailing kisses across her jaw until Elle couldn't take it anymore, slipping out of Hailey's grasp. She cupped Hailey's cheek, bringing her lips up to hers, crashing into them, their lips parting in a heated kiss, before Hailey pulled away a few seconds later, her eyes dragging across Elle's body that was still underneath her.

  “You are so beautiful,” Hailey breathed, her hand resting on Elle's neck as she dipped her head to find her lips again, and Elle tilted her head back into the cushions, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss that left Elle breathless.

  Elle's hands roamed across Hailey's back, staying outside her gray tank top. Even though she desperately wanted to rake her fingers across her skin, Elle was savoring this moment. She didn't want to rush it. She'd been dreaming about this for so long. Now it was actually happening, and she wanted to remember every second of it.

  Elle moaned softly into Hailey's mouth as their tongues danced, and Hailey's hand slid away from her neck and across her chest, her fingertips tracing a delicate pattern over her breast, through the white fabric of her top and awakening her nipple.

  Elle's hands found Hailey's jean covered ass, before sliding down her thighs and back up again, giving her cheeks a gentle squeeze as they continued to kiss. Hailey's hips rocked lightly, and Elle didn't think this foreplay could last much longer. Her own clit was pulsating against her black jeans, begging for attention.

  Elle slid her hand underneath Hailey's tank top, dragging her nails across her skin, her back arching into Elle as they continued to kiss. Elle's hands were on her waist, moving upwards until she was cupping Hailey's breasts through her bra, her thumb and index finger teasing her already hardened nipples.

  Hailey broke their kiss to lift her top over her head, letting it fall to the floor, finding Elle's lips again, kissing her hard as she moaned into her mouth, one hand in Elle's hair, the other cupping her neck.

  Elle's body was on fire, and she knew they needed to go upstairs. She didn't want their first time together to be on the couch. She wanted to look at Hailey, to cover her body with her own. She wrapped her arms around Hailey, her palms against her lower back, exercising all of willpower not to move a few inches higher and unhook her bra.

  Elle brushed a lock of Hailey's blond hair away from her face as she broke the kiss, their foreheads lightly touching for a second while they both caught their breath.

  “Let's go upstairs,” Elle whispered, lightly brushing her lips across Hailey's before she stood up, reaching for Elle's hand.

  Elle held onto Hailey's hand as they climbed the stairs. She could hear her heart hammering in her ears. She'd never been this nervous before, this excited, this scared.

  Elle pushed open her bedroom door, and she must have hesitated in the doorway, because Hailey dropped her hand, wrapping her arms around her waist from behind, her chin resting on Elle's shoulder.

  “We can wait,” Hailey whispered.

  Elle swallowed the lump in her throat and turned in her arms. “No... Not unless you want to?”

  “No... You're sure?”

  Elle nodded. “I'm just... nervous I guess.”

  “I know... Me too.”

  Elle's eyebrows rose. She wasn't expecting Hailey to say that, but it reassured her all the same.

  Hailey cupped her cheek, kissing her slowly, her other wrapped around her waist, as Elle deepened the kiss, sighing into her mouth as she let go again, pushing all of her doubts aside as she melted into Hailey, letting her hypnotic lips brush across her own, their tongues dancing.

  Hailey broke their kiss to lift Elle's white top over her head, revealing her lacy white bra. Hailey's eyes drank her in before finding her lips again, her kiss harder this time, as Elle unhooked Hailey's black bra, her hands cupping her breasts while her thumbs flickered over her hard nipples.

  Hailey's hand slid away from her cheek, to the base of her neck, pulling her into a searing kiss, their tongues swirling as Hailey's bare breasts pressed against Elle's chest.

  Hailey's free hand unclasped Elle's bra, easing the straps down her arms. Elle tossed it to the side, her hands on Hailey's jean clad ass again as she slipped her thigh between Hailey's legs. Elle moaned as Hailey pushed back against her, her hips grinding against her thigh in slow, deliberate rolls.

  Elle broke their kiss, meeting Hailey's eyes, and she was taken aback by their darkness. Her normally bright blue
eyes were full of desire, and she reached for Elle's hand, leading them over to the bed.

  Hailey unbuttoned Elle's black jeans, tugging the zipper down, and pushing her jeans down her legs, taking her panties with her. Elle's hand rested on Hailey's shoulder to balance herself as she stepped out of them, kicking them to the side with her foot, her breath hitching as the cool air hit her most sensitive place.

  Hailey stayed kneeling down in front of her, her hands gliding across Elle's legs, stopping just below her ass. Hailey held onto Elle's thighs as her tongue lightly ran across her, barely parting her outer lips, but Elle knew she was wet. That familiar musky aroma filled the air, and a low moan escaped Elle's mouth as Hailey's tongue parted her, gliding through her folds, teasing her way up to Elle's pulsating clit.