by Abi Walters
Tyler ignored Cap and cocked his head at Mia, “Do you actually do your job or just sit there and look pretty?”
“Excuse me?” She recoiled.
“Dude!” Colin exclaimed. Though his mouth was open with shock, it was obvious he wore a laughing smile.
“He’s worried about the album,” Ryan, a man of few words, said from the other end of the room.
Mia knew that feeling. She knew it well. And if Tyler didn’t snap together, he’d end up with a disgruntled bunch of musicians seeking out a different manager. Though irritated with his fangs, she tried to offer some comfort, “The album is fine, Tyler. You’re doing your job. They’re doing their job. And apparently I’m not doing mine. What about video production?”
He rubbed his jaw, wanting to produce an apology. Instead he addressed her last question, “The studio wants a video for Stella.”
Stella was Mia’s favorite Burnside song. It was exceptionally raunchy but so upbeat it made everyone dance. A perfect first song to send out to the masses. To ease their visible worry over the situation, she smiled and admitted, “That’s my favorite song.”
“Of course it is,” Cap grinned.
“I may or may not listen to it like, three times a day. It makes the subway more enjoyable.”
“Mia Barnes dabbling in flattery? Hell must be freezing over,” Tyler was in a piss poor mood, nursing his second beer since her arrival.
“You’ve adopted such a New York attitude, Tyler. See? I told you you’d get the hang of being an asshole,” She bit out, crossing her arms and leaning against the doorframe.
“Since you’re such a big fan, maybe we can play it for you,” Colin winked.
“I could just go see you play tomorrow in the studio. Not like I haven’t seen you play it before. And I’m not sure playing Stella acoustically would be a good idea.”
“It sounds good,” Tyler huffed, his defense of his band bringing a smile to Mia’s face.
She nodded and shrugged at the boys. It was obvious they were proud of their music. Cap picked up his instrument and Colin adjusted his. They looked perfectly at home, lazing around drinking beer and tenderly cooing to their instruments every so often. The first few notes of the song filled the room, and Mia had to admit Tyler was right, it sounded good acoustic. Not as good as it did with the whole band rocking out the tune, but it still packed a punch. She tapped along to the music, her eyes closing as she tilted her head back and rested it on the wall.
Cherry lips, big hips.
Mia drifted out into the middle of the living room, not being able to help how much the song made her want to dance. She spun around playfully, looking at Tyler when she stopped and caught her breath. He was busy on his phone, completely ignoring her. He was usually flirting with her, or at least, being nice to her when she was caddy with him. Her chest hurt. Benson and Tyler were both over her. Determined, for some reason, to catch Tyler’s attention she danced to the song like she did around her room. She pretended Benson was pressed against her as she ground her body over his hardness.
I taste you in my sleep, got me beggin’ for more.
The curve of your lips and the sway of your hips,
you can tame the beast with the slightest look.
Now you’re pressed against the wall,
my teeth on your neck and your hands in my pants,
S-S-S-Stella, you’re my dream,
S-S-S-Stella, let me take you home.
There was something euphoric about the way she danced. Though not alone in the room, she felt as if she were. She had replaced every mention of Stella with Benson’s name as she played out the lyrics in her head, imagining the dirty passionate sex portrayed in the song. When the last strum hit, Mia opened her eyes, faced the crowd, and bowed. She had gotten Tyler’s attention, though he was looking at her pensively as if he were searching for an answer to an unknown question. Ryan clapped and pretended to throw flowers at her feet.
She stayed until it was time to go to LuLu’s and meet with Lora. Tyler managed to loosen up slightly, even cracking a few jokes as she hung out with them in their living room playing video games and chatting about New York City. She tried to keep the conversation off of work. Getting signed and recording an album was scary, and though the boys of Burnside didn’t show their fear, it was obviously wearing on Tyler. She left with a wave, thankful that she’d gotten the chance to bond with them.
It wasn’t that stepping up from management to Public Relations took the fun out of music. It was a great opportunity, and she always had her hands in so many corners of the industry. PR was a well needed break from the constant rush that accompanied management. After spending the afternoon with Burnside, she missed management terribly while breathing happily at the thought of getting out. It wasn’t just Aaron that worked into her downward spiral- it was the whole scene. He was the catalyst. She’d grind against DJs, slipping Aaron’s bands mixtape in their jeans as she sauntered away. She bought heroin, cocaine- whatever drug the band wanted that night, twiddling her thumbs while she stood by and watched them. Some nights Aaron made her smoke weed with them, other times he handed her a small medicine cup of pills. She usually took them. He pushed her as a woman and as manager until she snapped. Though she managed bands after his, that aspect of friendship, love and music was lost on her. Grant gave her the opportunity she needed to go further.
LuLu’s was a tiny café close to campus. It was full of the typical hues and décor of coffee shop. The reds and brows paired with stock paintings coffee beans and cups weren’t modern or new, but they were warm and safe. The small building was always unpredictable. Some days it would be so busy Lora and Mia had to sit on a bench across the street as they drank their lattes in take away cups. Other days there would be just a handful of people lingering around tables and ordering their drinks. When Mia arrived, it was a blended mix. It wasn’t extremely busy, but there was limited table space. She was glad to see Lora waving at her from a small wood table for two near the window. When Mia walked through the doors and set her bag on the chair across from Lora, her friend’s eyebrows raised,
“New outfit?”
“New outfit,” Mia confirmed. “I thought I told you it was my treat?”
Lora looked down at her large cup of creamy brown latte then back up at Mia, “I got here early.”
“Fine. Want a donut or anything?” Mia pulled her wallet out of the purse.
Lora laughed as she lifted up a wadded up piece of paper, “Already had one.”
“You’re impossible!”
Mia was back at the table within a few minutes with a drink that mocked Lora’s and a small pastry. She nearly ate the entire treat in one bite, “So who is Zach?”
“Another professor in my building. Where have you been the past few days?”
They played the back and forth game when they were fighting, or rather, making up. It made clean up slightly easier for the two.
“Wallowing in my misery. Is he a silver fox?”
Lora laughed, “He’s my age, Mia. He’s really cute. Wears glasses and has a big nose. He focuses a lot on World War II, teaches a course or two on it. He’s nice.”
“I’m glad,” Mia gave a genuine smile. Lora was pretty, but she was focused on securing her job at the university. She rarely ever went on dates.
“So now that I’ve answered your pressing questions about Zach-”
“Actually,” Mia smirked. “Have you guys had sex yet?”
“This is our first date.”
“That doesn’t mean anything to me,” Mia laughed, knowing Lora was well aware of her sexual history.
“I like him,” Lora shrugged. “I want to take it slow. Anyway, before you interrupted me, what the fuck has been going on lately?”
With Mrs. Tate being long gone, Mia decided to start from the beginning. The dirty, raunchy beginning. She told Lora everything she could remember, everything she could think of. She indulged in the dirtiest of details. Though frustrated and hurt with
Benson, she wanted to display his sexual prowess on a pedestal, as if it already wasn’t well known. She told Lora about the way he touched her in the middle of a crowded venue, how the way he held her after Aaron made her heart warm. Their sex that night was beyond words. He filled her dirty fantasizes in ways she didn’t even know possible- cleaned her tenderly- then left. Lora marveled over the presence of the SUV Bentley outside Mia’s apartment and office, cringed at the Monday phone call and shot a disapproving look when Mia recounted the events of that morning.
By the time Mia was done talking both of their coffees were gone. She was glad Lora was a listener. She was a damn good listener, which was good considering how much Mia liked to talk. Mia talked so much that Lora was running behind. Not wanting to keep her friend from her pre-date rituals, they parted. Mia took the subway car, missing the luxury of Benson’s car. She’d settle for any car, really. Anything that kept her away from the creatures of the subway.
At home, she carefully found a spot for her new heels and stripped her clothes off, throwing them in her stackable washer with a load of laundry that had been threatening to overflow onto her bathroom floor. She put on a pair of grey cotton shorts and a worn tee of a band she used to manage. With her hair in a loose ponytail she dug through her pantry trying to find something quick and easy to make for dinner as to spare her bank account any more damage.
When there was a knock on the door, Mia froze, knowing who was on the other side before she opened it.
Chapter Six
For a pregnant second, Benson’s gaze tore Mia apart. He ran a hand through his manicured hair as his eyes lingered on her legs, her hips, her neck. When their eyes met, he pushed past her and began to pace around her apartment. Mia shut the door delicately, her hands pressed flatly behind her on the wood as she watched Benson mutter a slew of words as he paced. His shirt was untucked on one side and his jacket was nowhere to be seen. Even with pieces of his suit missing Benson looked intimidating. She steadied herself and waited until her heartbeat slowed slightly before moving any closer, taking small steps until she grasping her island counter for support.
With Benson just a few feet away walking in circles, she could still only hear bits and pieces of his monologue. Just so fucking complicated…. Sweet, delicious…. Don’t sleep… Why- how… Precious, fuck, precious… It was like watching a car driving off a bridge. He’d speed up, his breath and feet quickening, then slow as his fingers pulled out hair. Over and over again, until he suddenly stopped and looked at her with graveness in his eyes. She held her ground as he stalked over, grabbing her by her waist and pulling her into his grasp. Flooded with his scent, his touch, his hot breath on her neck as he inhaled her, Mia wasn’t sure if she’d last through the night.
One of Benson’s hands snaked up and weaved into her hair. He tilted her head so their eyes were locked.
“I don’t know how to do this,” His words were raspy, his eyes sad.
“Really? You seem like an expert at messing things up.”
“Dammit, Mia,” He growled before kissing her so deeply she was thankful the island was there to support her. It wasn’t rough, rather a desperate plea for attention. He pulled and rested his forehead on hers. “I have wanted you since I first saw you in that lobby. I want you more now that I’ve already had you.”
“I got your note,” She said simply because she didn’t know what else to say.
His gaze hardened, “I miss seeing you. I miss touching you.”
“You are going to take every part of my heart and soul and leave me with nothing.”
She didn’t let him know he had already taken every part of her. She didn’t want him to have that leverage.
“You don’t think I know that?” He hissed, his hand on her waist tightening. “And you don’t think that I feel the same about you? You’re stuck inside me and I know when you leave there will be nothing but emptiness. I didn’t think I had the capacity to feel- I didn’t want the capacity to feel, but fuck, Mia, you make me crazy.”
“I do a good job of that,” She whimpered.
“What do you mean by that?” He was accusatory, though not intentionally. He didn’t want to hurt her any more than he already had.
“I’m not who you think I am. I’ve got a closet so full of skeletons that they’re spilling out onto the floor.”
“You’re Mia Barnes, aren’t you? That’s who I crave. Skeletons are just skeletons.”
“Not when the skeletons are part of who you are.”
Benson’s hot lips sizzled on the skin of her neck, pulsating through her body in waves of tender emotion, “I don’t care.”
“You will.”
He snapped up so he could stare at her, “Don’t tell me what I will or will not do, Mia. I came here because I physically cannot stand to not have you near me. I mentally cannot stand knowing you’re mine but I can’t have you.”
“I’m not-”
“You’re mine.”
Mia gasped as Benson scooped her up and set her on the counter. She braced herself, arms locked tight behind her, as she watched in erotic amazement as he grabbed the waistband of her shorts and her underwear, jerking them off with ease. The counter was cold on her bottom. It was a welcome touch on her hot, throbbing sex. She arched her back in pleasure. Benson’s breath hitched as he stared at Mia.
“Four days,” He stated, his voice a mix of disgust and anger. “Four days since I’ve seen this somewhere other than my dreams.” His fingers were white, grasping the counter on either side of her as he lowered his face. One lick. Mia shivered in anticipation, her mouth hanging slightly open as she took ragged breaths. “You taste so sweet, precious. So, so sweet.”
She didn’t- couldn’t- respond, and instead let herself enjoy the waves of pleasure between her legs. As much as she wanted to keep her head straight so she could watch Benson, his face buried in her pussy with her legs draped over his shoulders, the sight was so intense, the pleasure so hot that she had to tilt her head back and squeeze her eyes shut. Her body had craved him so desperately that her first orgasm came quick and hard. Mia’s body rocked with another orgasm shortly after, prompting her to call out in a gasp,
“Please, Benson! Please.”
She lifted her head to find his eyes waiting. If his mouth wasn’t busy serenading her, it would’ve been curled into a pleased smirk. Her eyes fluttered under his gaze.
“I need to touch you,” She moaned. “I need you inside me, Benson.”
“Not yet. I’m making up for lost time.”
She was desperate and willing to play dirty. When she lifted her legs off his shoulder, Benson stopped devouring her sweet sex and looked at her with a quizzical gaze. She suspended both legs in the air, squeezed shut with her toes pointed high at the ceiling. Benson growled at her. Her pasty thighs framed her red and swollen sex, wet from her own juices and his saliva. The curve of her ass was barely visible, but it was enough to make his cock twitch.
“Look how much I need you,” She purred. “My pussy needs you, Benson. Fuck me. Fuck my pussy.”
He knew her game as soon as she framed her tight sex before his eyes. Though he had gone days without tasting her, without being inside her, he wasn’t going to go down that easily. When her words pulled a primal grunt out of his lips, Mia grinned in satisfaction, even more so as he slid her off the counter and hauled her to her couch. He tugged her shirt over her head. Mia went to protest his abundance of clothes when Benson sat, swiftly pulling her down over his lap and winding his arm back to deliver a tight smack on her ass. The sting shook her body and she let out a yelp of surprise mixed with a moan stirred by the punishment. With Benson’s thick cock pressed against her stomach, she endured a string of spankings. The stings grew in intensity until Mia couldn’t decipher between pain and pleasure.
“You’ve been quite naughty, Miss Barnes,” Benson’s voice was rough and sexual.
The tone of his voice shot to her very swollen core. With wet eyes and an even wetter pussy, M
ia strained to gain leverage to her clit. Benson delivered another smack. She waited with climbing anticipation for his next delivery. Except it didn’t come. Instead, his hand shot to her wrist, stalling her thumb as it strained to rub against her clit. She let out a startled cry, almost a demand.
“Very naughty,” Benson confirmed. “You should know better. If you asked I might have allowed it.”
“Need you,” She panted into the leather couch cushion, not wanting to turn and see his face. She’d explode from pleasure if she saw the way his lips moved as he scolded her for her sexual disobedience.
“Naughty girls don’t typically get what they want, do they, Miss Barnes?”
She struggled for words, “No.”
Other partners had denied her in the past for her misspoken words or disrespect for their rules. As much as she liked being told what to do in the bedroom, she also very much liked being disobedient. She was a greedy lover, and punishments did nothing but make her want more. The tone in Benson’s voice was hard and unwavering, and she couldn’t tell what was going to come next. Would he leave? Would he spank her more? Maybe tie her up and leave marks all over her body?
When he demanded she stand, Mia battled between her sexual excitement and her aching heart for his obvious impending departure. Benson didn’t leave, though. He lifted himself slightly off the couch so he could unzip his dark gray pants and shove them, along with his boxer briefs, to pool at his feet. Mia couldn’t keep her eyes of the silky rod that sprung between his legs. Long and thick, it was like a piece of art, just like the rest of him. She was so fixated she almost didn’t notice his beckoning finger. Her breath was rapid as she pressed her knees on either side of him, careful not to impale herself on him (though she desperately wanted to) and get any more Benson punishments.
He frowned at her and shifted her back so his bare cock was nestled at her opening. Teasingly, he nudged upwards so his head was barely parting her lips. She groaned. He was going to torture her. Tease her all night long as punishment for trying to speed things along.