by Layla Hagen
“Sounds like it. Listening to you makes me miss my family.”
Talking to Isabelle felt honest and raw in a way few things felt around me. People rarely talked to me about personal things. It was always about music or parties or how to capitalize on my image.
“Can I ask you something?” she whispered.
“Go ahead.”
“Sasha said you had a relationship that didn’t end well a few years ago. I didn’t want to ask her about more details because it didn’t feel right, but...”
I sat up straighter, surprised Sasha had mentioned it at all. She wasn’t one to gossip.
“It was when we started as a band. I dated Kate, who, it turned out, only wanted to sell a sex tape of us.”
“Holy shit!”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. That’s insane.”
That experience only reinforced my belief that relationships weren’t worth it.
“It was a long time ago, but it’s left me with a sour taste in my mouth.”
“No kidding.”
“My parents can’t figure out why I’m still single. They’ve been married for so long that they don’t understand why anyone would want anything else.”
Isabelle laughed. “Mine are the same. They don’t understand why we don’t all fall in love and give them a ton of grandkids. I think it’s a generational thing. And also small-town dynamics are a bit different. They’ve—oh, I didn’t order another glass.” She changed the tone abruptly, clearly speaking to someone else.
“No, the gentleman at the bar sent it,” a female voice said.
My fingers froze on the armrest. I gripped the phone tighter.
“Thank you, but I can’t accept it. Please take it back,” Isabelle said. After a few seconds, she said, “Okay, I’m back.”
“I heard that.” I had no right to ask her this, but I wanted all the rights. All of them. “I know we didn’t talk about us on Saturday, but don’t go out with anyone else until I’m back.”
“I had no intention of doing that.”
I expelled a long breath and relaxed a bit in my chair. The thought of another guy looking at her was enough to drive me crazy. I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t territorial, and I certainly didn’t get jealous.
Until Isabelle.
Chapter Eight
Isabelle
The rest of the week was a bit of a doozy. On Wednesday morning, I overslept, which meant no call with Brayden. He kept his promise, and the restaurant called me to let me know they’d reserved a table for four. I was so over the moon that if Brayden was in front of me, I’d have given him one hell of a smooch. I couldn’t believe he was so thoughtful.
Dylan and Ian were so happy about our dinner that they didn’t even ask me how I managed to get a reservation so fast. We were out until late, so of course I overslept the next morning as well.
Isabelle: Talk to you this evening? I’m SO sorry.
Brayden: We’re going for drinks with the crew from the talk show, so I’ll probably be dead to the world tomorrow morning. But in the evening, it’ll be just you and me after we get the band business out of the way.
I swallowed hard, staring at the message. “Just you and me.” Oh, Brayden, Brayden. What is this man doing to me?
***
On Friday, I was a little antsy when I arrived at the cottage. I’d drawn up a plan for the band, and I wasn’t sure if they’d be on board with it. But that wasn’t the only reason I was on pins and needles. I was going to see Brayden after a whole week, and there was a slight hiccup in my evening plans.
Getting out of the car, I rolled my shoulders, skimming my palms down my thighs to smooth my dress before knocking at the front door.
The band had landed two hours ago, and Sasha thought it would be good if they saw my plan before filming their next Facebook live tomorrow.
Brayden opened the door. My breath caught as I took him in. His hair was slightly damp and tousled, the curls in complete disarray. He’d obviously just finished showering; the linen shirt he was wearing was plastered to his body in a few spots where he hadn’t dried himself completely.
“Hi!” My voice sounded a little high-pitched, a lot weird. I cleared my throat but wasn’t sure what to say next. How was this happening? This wasn’t our first meeting... but it was the first time I’d seen him after he’d unabashedly told me not to date anyone else.
“Isabelle, come in.” He smiled as if he knew exactly what was going through my mind.
My arm nearly brushed his chest as I stepped inside. He smelled like soap.
“How was your flight?” I asked, finally managing to get my wits together.
“Uneventful, unlike the landing at JFK.”
“Oh?”
“A fan recognized us, and then things escalated, but security managed to get us out. The guys will be down in a few minutes. Do you want something to drink?”
“Sure, some water.”
He led me to the bar area in the secondary living room. It looked eerily empty without guests, or at least the band. I was aware that I was completely alone with Brayden in this huge space. He poured water in a glass, sliding it to me over the bar counter.
Placing my bag on top, I took out my iPad. Brayden disappeared from my line of view, and then I sensed him come up behind me. I sucked in a breath when I felt him right at my back. Our bodies weren’t touching, but the heat of him was impossible to miss.
“Did you think about what you want us to do tonight?” he asked.
I turned around slowly. “About that... A client asked me if she could have an emergency session this evening. Her husband just up and left, and I don’t have the heart to turn her down.”
Brayden’s expression softened. “You’re an amazing person, Isabelle. Text me after you’re done.”
“Really?”
“You didn’t think I’d give up, did you? I know my life is complicated, Isabelle. But I can’t stop thinking about you. Even when I’m writing music. Especially then.”
“I’m your muse?” I asked in a teasing tone, realizing my nerves had subsided a little.
“Yes. Yes you are.”
He was inches away from me. I licked my lips, unable to move from my spot. I didn’t really want to anyway. I wanted him.
I placed a hand on his chest, skimming my thumb over the top button of his shirt.
He kissed me, and it was hot and dirty and insanely delicious. He bit my lower lip lightly before feathering the tip of his tongue on my upper one. Unexpected pleasure rocked through me, weakening my knees. I held on to both of his shoulders, at least at first, but then I lowered my hands all over his torso, needing to touch him. With every inch of him I explored, I became greedy for more. His abs were rock hard, just as I’d imagined they’d be. I felt up the shape of each before moving my hands farther down until I reached the top of the V that disappeared into his jeans. I skimmed two fingers down each side, stopping at the waistband. I was shaking with the need to touch more of him, but we couldn’t cross that line. Not here, not now.
But I couldn’t help toying with that line, dipping my thumbs a bit in the waistband. Brayden groaned against my mouth, deepening the kiss. He threaded his fingers in my hair, tilting my head back slightly. His other hand covered mine, stopping me from further toeing that line. He moved one hand down my back, cupping my ass and pressing me against him. I gasped, realizing why he hadn’t wanted me to further tease him. He had a hard-on. He was hanging by a thread already.
He pressed me even more into him, until his erection pushed against my clit. I soaked my panties. Another jolt of pleasure shot through me, even more intense than the one before. My body was putty in his hands. Every sensation was intensified: his lips on mine, his chest against my breasts, his erection against my sensitive spot.
He stopped the kiss so abruptly that I was thrown for a loop, blinking rapidly. His eyelids were slightly hooded, his pupils dilated. That was when I heard voices approaching, and I realized the guys
were coming. I touched my lips with two fingers, wondering if they were swollen. I caught Brayden’s half smile as he moved behind the bar.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
He chuckled. “Trying to walk off my hard-on behind the bar.”
My cheeks warmed. I brought a hand to my neck, schooling my features, hoping no one would catch on.
“Isabelle, when did you arrive?” Lars asked.
“A few minutes ago.”
“Brayden took good care of you?”
I was sincerely hoping my blush wasn’t intensifying. “Yes.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brayden turning away to hide a smile.
“I’m ready to show you this plan I’ve made. It’s more of a guide. I think you’re doing a great job on your own, but Sasha insisted it would be helpful to have some pointers written out.”
“Let’s hear it,” Thomas said.
“I don’t want to take up much of your time. I’m meeting a client later, so I can’t stay long.”
All of us moved to the couch, including Brayden. I was still so on edge from our kiss that my entire body hummed even though he wasn’t sitting next to me. I could feel him watching me though.
“I think one Facebook live every week is good now. Once concert season starts, you can probably do two, but I know that’s a busy time, so play it by ear. The important thing is for this to be fun for you, to come naturally. If it’s uncomfortable for you, then I can assure you the viewer can tell. Certain body language cues are obvious even to the untrained eye.”
I glanced at the group quickly, checking if they were following me before focusing on the iPad again.
“I’ve listed some ideas for you, based on what the fans asked in the comments. They mentioned some things they’d want to see. It’s up to you, obviously, but I thought it would be helpful to know. Maybe it can spark other ideas.”
I moved on to the slide of suggestions.
“People are interested in our gym routine?” Lars asked incredulously.
I chuckled. “You’re all hot as sin. Obviously they want to know how you keep in shape.”
A strange noise came from Brayden. No one seemed to hear it except me. When I locked eyes with him, I was surprised by the intensity in his expression.
He’s jealous? Holy shit, it was just a comment. Did it make me a bad person that I was enjoying it slightly? I grinned. He cocked a brow. I grinned even wider, shrugging one shoulder.
We went through my whole list quickly. I kept checking the time, because I didn’t want to be late back to the office.
“Okay, guys. I’m sorry, but I really have to go. I think you have enough info for your next video. You can always call me.”
“We’re good,” Harvey said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Brayden offered. Placing a hand at the small of my back, he led me to the front door. Heat spread through me from the point of contact.
“When do you finish?” he asked.
“In two hours, I think.”
“I’ll be waiting in front of your building in a car.”
“Oh, wow. Okay. Want to make sure I don’t get away?”
“Exactly.” He pushed a strand of hair out of my face, looking straight at me. “And the rest of the evening will be just for us.”
***
My client, Elsa, was a mess. Sadly, I couldn’t do anything for her right now more than hand her tissues and console her. In times like these, any advice was pointless. She needed to let out the grief, and I was happy she felt safe enough to do it with me.
“You’re so great, Isabelle. Thanks for making time for me on a Friday evening.”
“I’m always here for you, Elsa.”
“I don’t even know what to do. I don’t want to cry my eyes out all weekend.”
“Sometimes you have to let it all out. But I can make you a diary, if you want. You can write down everything you feel, tear out the page, and throw it away. It really helps.”
“I’d love that.”
I opened the drawer under my desk where I kept the papers and binders for diaries. I personalized them according to the client’s needs. I’d printed a stack of uplifting quotes. After choosing a dozen, I carefully glued them on the papers I put in the binder.
“That’s it. It’s ready,” I announced.
“Thank you, Isabelle. I’m so happy I found you.” She beamed, rubbing the corners of her eyes as she slid the diary in her purse.
My heart was hurting for her as I led her to the door. It would take a long time for her to heal.
The second I was alone in the office, I remembered that Brayden was waiting for me downstairs, and my chest filled with this incredible joy. I quickly refreshed my makeup—a dash of mascara and eyeshadow, leaving my lips bare.
My pulse quickened as I left the building. The black BMW was parked in the spot reserved for deliveries. Rolling down the tinted window, he smiled at me. I had no idea what tonight would bring, but I was ready to embrace everything. He opened the door, scooting along the back seat to make space for me.
“What do you want to do?” he asked once I was next to him, door closed.
“We could go to my place.”
He nodded. “Tell Paul your address.”
Paul was the same guy who’d driven me to Lars’s party. I rattled off my address, and the car lurched forward.
It felt a bit surreal to sit here next to Brayden. He said absolutely nothing on the way, which only made the tension between us more palpable. I could feel him watching me, and the weight of the conversation we were about to have filled the air. Every time I glanced sideways, I found him looking at me. He touched me relentlessly, skimming his hand up my forearm, threading our fingers together.
Even though there was quite a distance between my office in Brooklyn and my apartment in the Bronx, I was so lost in his delicious touch that I barely felt the time slip by.
I startled when Paul announced, “We’re here.”
“Oh, thanks.” I was suddenly so nervous, especially when Brayden put on a cap.
“Was there a bodyguard following us in another car or something?” I remembered him saying once that security didn’t travel in the same car with him.
“Nah, I only ask Sasha for a security detail when I’m in busy places. This is residential, mostly. It would draw attention.”
I led him through the narrow alleyways between the buildings until we reached mine. To my relief, no one bothered us. We took the staircase up to my place, because no one ever used it, and I unlocked the door quickly.
I only really relaxed once we were inside. “I thought you didn’t go anywhere without Sasha clearing the way first.”
He flashed me a devastating smile, taking off the cap and placing it on my silvery console. “I don’t, but like you said, I wasn’t going to let you get away tonight.”
I smiled back, fiddling with my thumbs.
“How was your session?” he asked.
“Very sad, but I think it helped her.”
“The way you care about everyone, from your siblings to your clients, is amazing. One of the things I admire most about you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. A lot. Especially your clients, since they’re practically strangers.”
“Well, they do become friends in a way. I like to think that, anyway, but maybe it’s one-sided. I mean, they don’t know anything about me, while I practically know their life story.”
“Doesn’t it get to be too much? Listening to everyone’s troubles?”
“Mostly I can compartmentalize. And it helps when I always think that it does them good to bring all the ugly out in the open.” I loved that he was asking questions about my work. My past dates would roll their eyes or try to change the subject whenever I spoke about my clients, but Brayden seemed genuinely interested. “But today I am a bit sad, I can’t deny that.”
He placed his hands on my shoulders, his thumbs rubbing at the base of my neck. Heat speared me. M
y breath hitched.
“Maybe I can help with that.”
“Mmmm, I’m sure you can.”
Suddenly I was feeling a little jittery.
“What are we doing, Brayden?” I whispered.
“I don’t know.” He touched my cheek with one hand.
“I mean, your tour starts in a couple months.”
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other now.”
“Without any pressure,” I continued.
“I know I said I can’t give you everything you need, but I can make you so damn happy, Isabelle.”
My heart somersaulted in my chest. I loved living in the here and now, without questioning the future too much. And his words were making me swoon. I had other questions, but none of them seemed important enough right now. All I wanted was for him to kiss me, so I rose on my tiptoes, sealing my mouth over his.
Chapter Nine
Brayden
Her taste was addictive. I couldn’t get enough of the sounds she made, the way she responded to me. I pulled her curvy body against me and nearly lost my mind. I touched her waist before moving down to her hips until my fingers brushed the elastic band of her panties over her dress. She whimpered softly as I moved my fingers along that hem from one hip to the center of her back. I pressed my hand there, in that small curve of her back. I wanted her to feel how much I wanted her, and how on edge I was. I kissed down her neck, lightly biting that spot where her shoulder began.
“I want you, Isabelle.” I spoke against her skin, moving her dress up her thigh. “I need you.”
I groaned when I reached her bare skin. Isabelle moaned, pushing her hips into me. I couldn’t hold back any longer; I needed to explore her in every way possible. I wanted to kiss her dirty and deep, to feel her naked body come apart beneath me.
Pulling back a few inches, I took in her hooded eyelids, her lips swollen from my kiss. I’d marked her as mine. I pushed her dress all the way up to her waist, then pulled it over her head.
“Fuck.” She was wearing a set of bra and panties that could only be described as sinful. Black lace covered her pale skin. It was beautiful, but I wanted her completely naked.